The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Title: Northeastern Silversmiths, Watchmakers, Jewelers records

Dates: 1778-1901, bulk 1814-1890

Call No.: Col. 20

Acc. No.: 85x121

Quantity: 2 boxes

Location: 17 A 3

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection documents the overlapping silver and jewelry trade and watchmaking/watch repairing business in the northeastern United States between 1814 and 1901. Bills, drafts, receipts, advertisements, and trade cards from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island are included. These records also include six bound volumes that are the business records of a number of New York craftsmen who were silversmiths-jewelers-watchmakers. The bound volumes include account books, daybooks, invoice books, and inventories, documenting the work of: Charles Osborn and Roswell White (also in partnership as Osborn & White); Thaddeus Mather and Wm. B. North (also in partnership as Mather & North); J. S. and J. Mott, Jr. [James S. and Jordan Mott]; and Wm. H. Hammond. The six volumes overlap each other, therefore, in date spans covered and in the names of the individual or firm names associated with each volume.

The inventory book (volume 2, in box 1) shows that the trade of the New York businesses extended far beyond watches. They carried silver spoons, butter knives, earrings, pins (some with precious stones), finger rings, pencil cases, gold lockets, eye glasses, clasps, buckles, bracelets, necklaces, and other similar items. Several of the volumes include bookseller’s tickets.

ORGANIZATION

Volumes 1-2 are in Box 1; volumes 3-6 are in Box 2. There are also some loose materials in folders found in Box 1.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

PROVENANCE

Purchased from Charles B. Wood, III.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Osborn, Charles.

White, Roswell.

Mather, Thaddeus.

North, Wm. B.

Mott, Jordan.

Mott, James S.

Hammond, William H.

Osborn & White.

Mather & North.

J. S. & J. Mott, Jr.

Topics:

Silverwork - New York (State)

Silverwork - New Hampshire.

Silverwork - Connecticut.

Silverwork - Massachusetts.

Silverwork - Ohio.

Silverwork - Pennsylvania.

Silverwork - Rhode Island.

Jewelry trade - New York (State)

Clocks and watches - New York (State)

Account books.

Daybooks.

Invoices.

Inventories.

Silversmiths.

Jewelers.

Watchmakers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 17 A 3

Box 1: Miscellaneous materials, Volumes 1-3

Folder 1: Advertisements and trade cards, n.d. (alphabetical order by name of firm):

.7 Allcock, Allen & Co. (New York);

.8 Ball, Black & Co. (New York);

.13 D. J. Sullivan (New Bedford, Mass.);

.11 Gorham and Company (Providence, R.I.);

.10 Grinnel & Sons (New York and Jersey City, N.J.) – on back of ad for Wm. Gale, & Son;

.12 Rogers Brothers Manufacturing Co.;

.11 Sackett, Davis & Potter (Providence, R.I.)– on back of ad for Gorham and Company;

.14 Tilden, Thurber & Co. (Providence, R.I.);

.9 W. W. Bostwick (Coshocton, OH);

.10 Wm. Gale & Son (New York)

Folder 2: Bills and receipts, 1837-1901: (alphabetical order by name of firm):

.16 A. Mathey & Co., New York, importers of watches, watchmaker’s tools and materials, dealers in jewelry and silver, etc., Aug. 29, 1837, bill to A. W. Sawyer, for set of engraved silver;

.17 A. G. Savory, Concord, NH, dealer in paints, gold and silver leaf, etc., bill to M. Chase, April 28, 1848(?), for painting supplies;

.18 Bechtel & Eno, Philadelphia, manufactures of solid and silver plated ware, May 22, 1861, letter to John Wilcox, enclosing balance due him, are suspending business operations in order to devote themselves to the war effort;

.28 Derby Silver Co., Birmingham, Conn., Sept. 20, 1889, request to a bill collector;

.35 E. Marks, Troy, NY, importer of diamonds, watches, silverware, jewelry, bronzes, clocks, April 18, 1882, receipted bill to W. Van Vleck, Ludlow Valve Works, for unspecified merchandise;

.27 Gorham M'f'g. Co., Silversmiths, New York, May 29, 1885, to First National Bank, Cooperstown, encloses receipt in the matter of Saxton(?) & Smith;

.19 Hall, Elton & Co., Wallingford, Conn., manufacturers of plated nickel silver table ware and German silver spoons, Feb. 28, 1872, to F. L. Palmer, acknowledging receipt of payment;

.26 Hall, Elton & Co., Wallingford, Conn., silver plated ware, German silver, Britannia & iron spoons, July 11, 1882, to First National Bank, Cooperstown, enclosing a sight draft on P. G. Tanner;

.33 International Silver Company, Meriden, Conn., Sept. 20, 1899, to First National Bank, enclosing bill of G.W. Grant & Co. for collection;

.29 James W. Tufts, Boston, Mass., silver planted ware, July 14, 1892, to First National Bank, Cooperstown, N.Y., enclosing sight draft of D. F. Wilbur;

.30 James W. Tufts, Boston, Mass., silver planted ware, March 16, 1897, to First National [Bank,] Cooperstown, N.Y., please collect sight draft of E. P. Wood;

.22 Meriden Britannia Company, West Meriden, Conn., Oct. 14, 1876, to F. L. Palmer, Cooperstown, N.Y., request to collect bill from S. M. Ballard;

.31 Oneida Silverware Mfg. Co., Ltd., Oneida, NY, April 12, 1897, to unknown person, please collect money from Austin & DeLong of Cooperstown;

.32 Oneida Silverware Mfg. Co., Ltd., Oneida, NY, May 14, 1898, to First National Bank, Cooperstown, N.Y., please collect draft from H. L. Pride;

.34 Reed & Barton, Taunton, Mass., manufacturers of silver plated and white metal goods, June 3, 1901, to Messrs. Vaughan & Sweet(?), receipted bill for repairing and replating a kettle;

.20 Rogers & Brother, Waterbury, Conn., July 20, 1872, silver plated ware, receipted bill to unknown person, for work, but not for any silver goods;

.23 Rogers, Smith & Co., West Meriden, Conn., silver plated ware, Feb. 19, 1877, to First National Bank, Cooperstown, N.Y., please collect draft of Ch. R. Burch;

.25 Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co., Wallingford, Conn., May 31, 1884, to First National Bank, Cooperstown, N.Y., please collect draft of S. M. & L. Ballard;

.21 Tiffany & Co., New York, June 22, 1874, receipted bill to J. I. Estey, for engraving buttons and [illegible];

.24 Wm. H. Smead, Cohoes, NY, china, crockery, glass, fancy ware, Rogers Bros.’ silver plate, chandeliers, bar goods, toilet ware, cuspidors, flower pots, etc., April 1, 1874, receipted bill to [illegible], for lanterns and oil

Folder 3: Estate inventory, John Thurman, 1778, n.p.

“The following plate belonging to the estate of John Thurman, dec’d., was taken down to New York by John Thurman, 18 Aug. 1778, for the use of the family. This is all the plate that was found belonging to sd. Estate. [signed] John Thurman”

Includes bowls, tankard, porringer, dish with cover, pepper box, mug, mustard pot, spoons, tea pot, etc. [on back: list of provisions]

Folder 4: G. W. Morse, Kent, Dec. 7, 1860, letter to unknown person requesting that Morse be sent $5 for the secret of making silver [perhaps means plating silver, although the whole thing sounds rather like a scam]

Folder 5: Illustrations from modern binder in which collection came

.37 colored photo of a serving spoon;

.38 cover of the October 1954 issue of The Magazine Antiques, with a picture of a silver tea pot, and various makers’ marks

Folder 6: Volume 1 (acc. 85x121.1)

Osborn & White, New York, Watch Book, 1814-1819

William B. North's Watch Book, 1821-1825

Thaddeus Mather & Co. Watch Book, 1825-1829

Thaddeus Mather's Watch Book, 1829-1830

Mr. Mathey, Mr. A. Mathey: work done on watches, 1822-1825

The first page bears the inscription “Charles Osborn’s Watch Book,” with “& Roswell White” added later; followed by “Osborn & White” written twice. Without warning, the pages are then labeled “William B. North’s Watch Book.” Next, the pages are headed “Thaddeus Mather & Co. Watch Book, March 7, 1825”; then it becomes “Thaddeus Mather’s Watch Book, 22d Oct. 1829.” After some blank pages, the name Mr. Mathey appears at the head of the pages – as his time overlaps that of North, he may have worked for him. The name A. Mathey also appears; this is probably the same person as in accession 85x121.16 (in folder 2).

The accounts are similar for all these differences in ownership. The accounts are in chronological order, with the name of the customer, a very brief description of the watch being repaired, the work done, which almost always included a cleaning, and the charge for the work.

Folder 7: Volume 2 (acc. 85x121.2): Charles Osborn, Invoice book, 1814-1815:

[Note: In addition to repairing watches, Osborn was a jeweler, with a store at 217 Broadway, where he sold watches, jewelry (including hair jewelry), clocks, and silver plated ware.]

Day book, May 4, 1814-March 11, 1815, with one entry for Feb. 24, 1829, recording sales of jewelry, watches, plated wares, etc.; includes a charge for the printing of watch papers (29 pp.);

Shop Inventories, 1815-1818:

“Account of stock furnished by Charles Osborn, 22 March 1815,” listing jewelry of all kinds, watches, silver plate, clocks, frames, plus some shop furnishings such as scales, awning, looking glasses for case, etc. (4 pp.);

“Goods of Mr. Stout Remaining on Hand, 22 March 1815,” listing jewelry, seals, and cases (1 p.);

“Account of stock furnished by Chas. Osborn, March 22, 1815,” listing some additional jewelry, keys, seals, watches, an epaulette, scissors, silver ware, frames, etc.; probably listing the same items as above, but in a slightly different format (the total value of goods in both lists is slightly different, however) (10 pp.);

“Account of stock remaining on hand of Osborn & White, 27 January 1816,” listing clocks, watches, silver ware, jewelry (6 pp.);

“Account of good sold to Messrs. Gordon & Wallach, 22 May 1816,” listing jewelry, curtain hooks, keys; laid into the volume at this point is an unlabeled list of home furnishings (furniture, table wares, books, etc.) which probably has nothing to do with Gordon & Wallach (2 pp., plus one loose leaf);

"Account of stock remaining on hand, February 19, 1817,” including clocks, watches, silver wares, jewelry (4 pp.);

"Account of stock remaining on hand, January 5, 1818,” silver wares, jewelry, watches, razor cases, etc. (7 pp.);

“Left with Smith & Robbins,” Oct. 21(?), 1825 (1 p.);

Accounts [pay records for outside craftsmen doing work for the shop?], 1815-1819 (19 pp.)

“Expenses of the Store, account of monies paid out,” 1814-1815, listing jewelry, pencil cases, watches, etc. (4 pp.);

Additional accounts which may be pay records (18 pp.)

Box 2: Volumes 4-6

Folder 1: Volume 3: T. Mather & Co.'s Account Book, 1825-1829:

Accounts, 1825-1826, with Wm. B. North & Co. and D. A. Comstock (12 pp.);

“Mather & North's Act. of Stock,” 31 January 1828, listing clocks, watches, silverware, jewelry (26 pp.);

“Thads. Mather's Act. of Stock at the Division & Dissolution, 22 October 1829,” listing silverware, watches, clocks, jewelry (14 pp.);

“T. Mather & Co., Account of Stock, 4 February 1826,” listing watches, clocks, watch and clock parts (2 pp.);

“Mather & North, Bought of Wm. B. North & Co., 6 October 1826,” listing watches, clocks, watch parts, watch tools, silverware, jewelry (22 pp.);

“Mather & North's Account of Stock,” 9 February 1828, listing watches, silverware, spectacles, fans, jewelry, etc. (21 pp.)

Folder 2: Volume 4:

[Thaddeus Mather?], Daybook, New York, 12 April 1828-18 September 1830, selling and repairing jewelry, silverware, watches (p. 1-140);

“Thads. Mather’s Daybook, New York,” 22 October 1829-18 December 1830, selling and repairing jewelry, silverware, watches, spectacles (p. 142-194);

[Thaddeus Mather?],], Daybook, Columbia, 4 Feb 1831-26 April 1831, selling and repairing watches, jewelry, and other items (p. 196-198);

Thads. Mather, Accounts, Windsor [CT], 1833-1851, includes accounts for settling estate of Nathaniel Mather (40 pp., plus some loose items);

Partial index to Daybook (2 pp.);

List of employees, 1829-1855 (1 p.)

Folder 3: Volume 5: J.S. & J. Mott, Jr. daybook

[note: James S. Mott and Jordan Mott were listed in the New York city directories as clock and watchmakers, located at 266 Pearl, corner of Fulton. About half the pages are blank.]

“Inventory of Goods belonging to J.S. & J. Mott, Jr.,” 26 August 1833, giving fairly detailed information about watches; also listing silver and plated wares, pencil cases, jewelry, miniature cases, etc. (p.1-37);

List of names and amounts, undated (p. 39-47);

Jas. S. & J. Mott, Jr., Invoice book [so labeled, but really a daybook], 2 September 1833-May 1835 (begins on p. 52, but most pages not numbered);

“Inventory of Goods taken Sept. 1^st, 1834,” listing watches, with details about them (gold virge watch, gold dial; gold lepine, Berthoud, Paris; etc.), located between entries for Aug. 30 and Sept. 1, 1834 (6 p.)

Folder 4: Volume 6: William H. Hammond

[note: In the 1853/54 city directory, William H. Hammond was listed as a watchmaker at 47 Dey, with his home in Brooklyn.]

Invoice book, 10 March 1852-21 December 1867;

Wm. H. Hammond's Estate, Cash Accounts, 7 March 1878-15 December 1880; includes a list of office furniture (work bench, ring stick and sizes, etc.) sold to W. H. Eggert, and a list of paintings (titles, no artists) sold to various people (16 p.)