Holder White Collection 31

The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: White, Holder, circa 1768-1853.

Title: Papers

Dates: 1841-1878, 1850-1859 (bulk)

Call No.: Col. 31

Acc. No.: 88x184, 88x185

Quantity: 5 folders

Location: 34 K 3

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Holder White and Holder White, Jr., were residents of Westport, Massachusetts. They manufactured wagons there in the second and third quarters of the nineteenth century.

The father Holder White was born around 1768 and died in 1853. His parents were Abigail Wing and Jonathan White. He married Cynthia Milk, and they had several children, including son Holder White, Jr., born in 1812. After the death of Cynthia, he married Sarah Borden.

Holder White, Jr. married twice, first to Amy S. Brownell (the mother of his children), and then to Mary E. Tripp. He died in Westport in 1895. In addition to making wagons, he was also an undertaker.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection contains bills, accounts, receipts, and invoices for goods and services purchased by the Whites. Most of the purchases were for wagon parts (e.g., axles, spokes, rims, felloes) or for work done on wagons (e.g. "painting and varnishing wagons," "ironing waggon," "mending springs," etc.). Some bills are for foodstuffs, paint, and labor. The suppliers included individuals and firms in New Bedford and Boston, Massachusetts.

ORGANIZATION

The papers are in chronological order.

RELATED MATERIALS

The New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library holds the White family business papers, Mss 34, which includes papers for Holder White, Jr., and his son George White.

PROVENANCE

Both accessions were purchased from Carmen Valentino.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Carriage and wagon making - Massachusetts - Westport.

Carriage and wagon painting - Massachusetts - Westport.

Carriage industry - Massachusetts - Westport.

Carriage manufacturers and dealers - Massachusetts - Westport.

Wagons - Massachusetts - Westport.

Business records - Massachusetts - Westport.

Bills (financial).

Invoices.

Receipts.

Accounts.

Additional author:

White, Holder, 1812-1895.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 34 K 3

Folder 1: Bills and receipts, 1840s,

All addressed to Holder White, senior, unless otherwise noted

[all accession numbers begin with 88x814.]

.1 bill from William Wilcox, May-July 1841: for planks, hemlock boards and joists, shingles, hemlock frame, clear lumber, etc.;

Note on back about timber boards and plank, and shingles

.2 from Cornelius T. Allen, January-November 1843: for bolts, mending irons, making axes, fixing stay shoe, ironing work and milk wagons, setting shoes, fixing saddle tree and whiffletree, and other blacksmith work on wagons and wheels

.3 from Cornelius T. Allen, January-December 1844: for fixing bolts and drawood, setting shoes, ironing light wagon, setting tyres, sharpening drills, banding wheels, pounds of irons, and other blacksmith work on wagons and wheels

.4 from A. F. Adix, Providence, May 1842-July 1844: for “merchandise as pr bill,” with credit given for 300 feet of glass and cash

.5 from Benjamin Little, August 1844-April 1849: charges for day’s of Little’s work (not specified), with note that he was to be paid in carriage or carpenter’s work

.6 to H. White, Jr., from Cornelius T. Allen, January-August 1845: for setting shoes and tyres, step irons and handles, ironing a wheelbarrow and a wagon, soldering pipe, bolts for fixing irons, ironing a cultivator and a whiffletree, some coal, making axeltrees, and other blacksmith work on wagons and wheels

.7 to Holder White, Jr., from William G. White, January-December 1848: for varnish, japan, spirits, linseed oil, papers of lamp black, patent leather, yards of damask; for making a pair of shafts; painting and varnishing wagons, work on a cart, a Rockaway body; cash given to brother and to Alden Little; etc.

.8 to H. White, Jr., from Georg H. Gifford, January-February 1848: for hewing and turning hubs, a set of axles, and pounds of tire iron; with credit given for pounds of chrome green

.9 to H. White, Jr., from C. A. Church & Co.: for bd. [broad?] cloth, skeins of silk, buttons, cod fish, tacks, paint and varnish brushes, pairs of shoes (including child’s shoes), screws, nails, flour, soap, War. 4^th book, calico, rolls of paper, denim, check, sugar, vinegar, syrup and molasses, drilling, linen, postage on a letter, binding, 3 sqr files, coffee, w. oil, brass butts, writing book, soda crackers, meal, etc.;

Credit was given for N.W. Winchester for carrying, and for a payment from the School District for making steps and work on school house, and for cash;

.10 to C. T. Allen, from Pratt, Rogers & Co., Boston, March 14, 1848: for pounds of lead;

Printed billhead: importers of paints, linseed oil, drugs, plate, English sheet and German window glass, …; Belleville and Harrison Philadelphia White Lead

.11 to H. White, Jr., from C.A. Church & Co., April 1849-April 1850: for boy’s and childen’s shoes, nails and screws, textile fabrics (cambric, gingham, calico, German bd. [broad?] cloth, duck, padding, linen, wadding, drilling, alpaca, cassimere), buttons, vest pattern and trimmings, Worcester primer, varnish brush, food items (meal, molasses, butter, salt, sugar, cheese), a pack of some kind of seed, clothes line, a bottle of balsam, soap, tacks, thread, W. oil, coffin hooks, W.D. book, Porter’s Petrarch reader etc.;

With credit given for N. W. Winchester for horse and carriage to N.B. [probably New Bedford]; lumber wagon to go to R.I., someone’s bill, turnips, and cash

Folder 2: bills and receipts, 1850s

All bills addressed to Holder White, Junior, unless otherwise noted; but it is not clear whether books addressed to Holder White were actually to father or son (father diedin 1853, however).

All accession numbers begin with 88x184.

.12 from William G. White, February-December 1850: for painting and varnishing wagons (jobbing, buggy, fly, and covered wagons mentioned) and a Rockaway, wagon parts, varnish, japan, spirits, paint, cleaning and oiling leather, mending curtains, glass frames and lights of glass, Sherman’s wagon, yards of textiles and trims (plush, canvas, damask, fringe, broad and narrow laces) a whip socket, work putting on irons, etc.

.13 to Holder White, from Eli P. Lawton, March-July 1850: for ferrules, pounds of irons, setting tires, repairing fork, sets of loops, new shoes, repairing wagons, shoeing and banding a set of wheels, making axles, making shaft iron, and other blacksmith work;

part of the bill was paid by White boarding Lawton

.14 from J. Brownell, May 1850-January 1852: for bushels of corn, barrels of flour, a box of yeast powder, sugar, nutmeg, bottle of pepper sauce

.15 from Jno. L. Anthony, Westport, March 1851-January 1852: for textiles (cambric, drilling, carriage canvas, calico, alpaca, fringe), milk pans, screws and nails, food items (cheese), bottle of bitters, paint, sandpaper, linseed oil, varnish, turpentine, coffin hooks, etc.

.16 a long bill from A.C. Church & Co., February 1851-January 1853: for textiles (linsey woolsy, duck, damask, etc.), food items (tea, coffee, corn, meal, sugar, beans, etc.), sewing notions (buttons, thread, vest pattern), hardware (screws, nails, chest locks), postage on letters, plough point, water pail, clothes line, paint brush, carriage lights, etc.;

Credits are also listed

.17 to H. White, from Farmer & Rogers, Boston, August 13, 1851: for iron, hoops, etc.;

Printed billhead: importer and dealers in bar, hoop and sheet iron and steel, tin plate, &c.

.18 to H. White, from Solomon H. Dodge, Boston, August 13, 1851: for sets of axels, bolts, rivets, brass bands, etc.; notes on back;

Printed billhead: dealer in finished axles, windlass necks, … steel springs, … anvils and vices [sic], … sledges and hammers, … steam pipe and carriage bolts, … wagon rivets, … tire benders, leather beltings, …, &c. &c. [includes a long list of blacksmith’s tools and some hardware]

.19 [name of purchaser is not given], from James Quigley, Boston, August 13, 1851: for mahogany sofa;

Printed billhead: J. Quigley’s Furniture Warehouse

.20 to Holder White, from James M. Tripp, New Bedford, April 1852-June 1855; for repairing wagons, fitting bolts, setting tires, a foot rest, fitting steps on wagon, etc.

.21 from Hammond, Manson & Co., Boston, Feburary 12, 1853: for set of axles, iron hubs, blots and bands, plus trucking charges;

Printed billhead: successors to the late Robert Fuller, importers and dealers in iron, steel, &c., At the Green Store

.22 to H. White, from E. B. Gifford, April –December 1853; for painting supplies (white lead, green and yellow paints, varnish, spirits), potash, lampblack, drill, cheese, slat, beef, oil, flour

.23 to H. White, from W. & G.D. Watkins, New Bedford, June 1853-June 1854: for sets of axles, iron

.24 to H. White, Westport, from Solomon H. Dodge, Boston, July 27, 1853: for set of axels;

.25 to H. White, from Chester Pratt & Son, Providence, Sept. 6, 1853: for steel springs, hickory spokes, rims;

“forwarded this p.m. pr steamer to Fall river and [illegible] Westport…”;

Printed billhead: importers of saddlery, hardware, and cutlery, also, dealrs in [carriage parts, carriage lace, etc.]

.26 from C.A. Church & Co., January 1854-January 1855: for molasses, sugar, shoes, coach lace, side lights, carriage nobs, codfish, nails, corn, meal, varnish and paint brushes, textiles (drilling, duck, end cloth, ticking), carriage lights, fringe, buttons and buckles, carriage bolts, a silk hat, etc.

.27 from Henry Taylor & Co., Boston, February 1, 1854: for end cloth, drills, axle something, and mall iron;

Printed billhead: importers and dealers in saddlery hardware, carriage trimmings, oak harness, bridle, and patent leather; wheel stock

.28 from Dodge, Gilbert & Co., Boston, February 24, 1854: for sets of axels;

“by r. road this day with the other goods …”;

Printed billhead: dealers in finished axles, windlass necks, … steel springs, … anvils and vices [sic], … sledges and hammers, … steam pipe and carriage bolts …, wagon rivets, … tire benders, leather beltings, …, &c. [includes a long list of blacksmith’s tools and some hardware]

.29 bill from Holder White, Westport, 1855, [does not give customer’s name], for rimming set of wheels, spokes, [illegible], stock, blacksmith bill; marked as being paid

.30 from E.B. Gifford, January-July 1855; for horse to New Bedford, beef, nutmegs, cloves, meal, tea, vinegar, oil, flour, varnish, feet of boards, spirits, japan, etc.

.31 from William G. White, January 1855-December 1856: for painting and varnishing wagons (including a covered wagon and a carryall wagon), leathering shafts, trimming seat and cushions, plating bands and putting them on, a gold watch, iron work and fitting rack, fitting curtains, yards of cloth and lace, etc.

.32 from Daniel H. Waite, 1856: for building addition on house, with charges for boards, planks, shingles, glass and putty, nails, zinc, door knobs, mortice latches, screws, days of work, patching[?] roof, and extra work

.33 to Eli P. Lawton, Westport, from Edward Dana, Boston, November 4, 1856: for springs;

Printed billhead: saddlery & coach hardware

.34 to Eli P. Lawton, Westport, from Edward Dana, Boston, November 21, 1856: for springs; “to be left at Anthony & Macombers”;

Printed billhead: saddlery & coach hardware

.35 from E.P. Lawton Co. [also called Lawton & Tripp], January-December 1857: for sanding wheels, pounds of paint, bolts, tire and band iron, setting shoes, braces on sign, ironing wheelbarrows, rivets, a shovel, etc.

.36 from Anthony & Macomber, Westport, February –October 1857; for ladies’ rubbers, nails, cheese, file, neats foot oil, keg of lead, red and green paints, apples, collars for George, varnish, rivets, textiles (damask, enameled cloth, ticking), buttons, door latch, butts, sponge, auger bit, linseed oil, wagon to N. Bedford, etc.

.37 from William G. white, April-November 1857: for sets of rims and spokes, painting and varnishing wagons, pair of something, freight charges, etc.;

.38 from Albert Hathaway, June-December 1857: for repairing and oiling harness, nob leathers, check strap, oiling and repairing braces, shaft strap, trimming seat and shafts, whip socket, covering dashers;

.39 from Albert Hathaway, February-September 1858: for whip sockest, nob leathers, repairing traces, covering shafts and dasher, lining saddle, making senters [sic], repairing harness, two hame strap;

.40 from Chester Pratt & Son, Providence, August 24, 1858: for set of H & S spokes, ask and oak fellers, drayage charges;

With letter: goods were selected by J. T Thomson and will be sent by steamer to Fall River; information about prices; information about rims;

Printed billhead: importers and dealers in … saddlery and carriage trimmings [with list of carriage parts, carriage lace, etc.], silver plating done to order

.41 from Dodge, Gilbert & Co., Boston, August 19, 1858: for axels;

.42 from Dodge, Gilbert & Co., Boston, [unclear] 30, 1858: for springs and axels;

.43 from Dodge, Gilbert & Co., Boston, January 24, 1859: for side springs; “sent via Fall River”;

.44 from Dodge, Gilbert & Co., Boston, January 29, 1859: for merchandise as per bill rend;

.45 from W. 7 G.D. Watkins, New Bedford, February-December 1859: for iron, spring steel;

.46 from Dodge, Gilbert & Co., Boston, March 12, 1859: for merchandise, springs;

.47 from Chester Pratt & Son, Providence, June [perhaps January] 18, 1859: for ash rims and hickory spokes;

Printed billhead: importers and dealers in … saddlery and carriage trimmings [with list of carriage parts, carriage lace, etc.], silver plating done to order

Folder 3: bills, receipts, 1860s

All addressed to Holder White, Jr., unless otherwise noted.

All accession numbers begin with 88x815, unless otherwise noted.

88x184.48 from William A. Sisson, January-December 1860: for sharpening drills, repairing wedges, spoke knives, hoop on tub, setting tires, ironing wagon, banding a hub, pounds of iron, sheeting axles, etc.

.1 from W. & G.D. Watkins, New Bedford, April 1860-January 1861: for pounds of refined iron and round rods and band iron, and setting axles, etc.;

On back: credits by order and cash

.2-.3 from Chester Pratt & Son, Providence, March 17 and April 4, 1860: for ash rims, perfect rims, and hickory spokes, sent by steamer to Fall River; and for axle bows and a set of axle rims[?];

Printed billheads: importers and dealers in … saddlery and carriage trimmings [with list of carriage parts, carriage lace, etc.], silver plating done to order

.4 bill and short letter, from Stephen Borden, Westport, January 9, 1861: charges for painting covered and open wagons, February-December 1860; note: gives measurements of a wagon, which apparently Borden wants White to make for him

.5 from W. & G.D. Watkins, February-September 1862; for pounds of refined iron and round rods; and ets axles and springs; with credit statement; bill is numbered 161 at top of page

.6 from William A. Sisson, January-November 1864: for set of loops, setting tires (chaise and cart mentioned) and axles, banding hubs, repairing ironwork, shoeing wheels and setting shoes, repairing fork, ironing a seat and a pole, repairing vise, ironing wheelbarrow; with credit statements; receipt signed by Eli P Lawton

.7 from M. E. Gammans, January 1864-February 1865: for shoeing horse, ironing carriages and a wagon, a wheelbarrow, repairing wheels, use of a horse to New Bedford, a sheet[?], etc.;

[note: paper has several small tears]

.8 from George H. Gifford, March-October 1865: for set of stakes; pairs of cart shafts; cart felloes; and sawing and turning items such as shafts, felloes, and spokes; etc.

.9 bill and short notes from United States, Fall River, May 31, 1865: taxes on carriages and repairs; with note about new tax rate

.10 from E. P. Lawton, June-December 1865: for veal, beef, lamb and unspecified haslet, mutton, c. beef [canned or corned beef?], steak, and liver; with credit given for sausages, hide, tallow, liver[?], and head, feet and tripe

.11 from William Watkins, July-December 1865: for sets of axles, pounds of refined iron; credit dated March[?] 1866

.12 letter, to Holder White, Esq., N. Westport, from J.[?] B. Richmond, Little Compton, [Rhode Island], February 1, 1866: gives instructions about rails under the floor of his wagons; mentions son Henry and Mr. Sisson;

On back: sketches of rectangular shapes;

[paper has a hole, and a small tear]

.13 to G. G. Barker, New Bedford, from Foster & Colburn, Boston, March 31, 1866L for green cloth and dasher leather;

Printed billhead: importers and dealers in saddlery hardware and coach trimmings

.14 from Gammons & Sisson, January-December 1868: for setting tires, repairing wagon, ironing wagons, etc.; with credits

.15-.16 from Winchester & White, April-November 1868: for nails, some kind of oil, starch, b. cloth [broadcloth?[, raisins, cloves, nutmegs, sugar, coat trimmings, lace, a bottle of lemon, springs, bolts & straps, ream of paper, yards of bordering, rims[?], milk pans, skeins of silk, an arithmetic [book], Bristol brick, ladies’ hose, rice, braid [spelled brade], burner & chimney [presumably for a lamp], muslin, rivets, washers, zinc, potatoes, wash bowl, etc.;

with credit given for eggs, varnishing wagon, a peddle cart, and cash;

[.16 is separate sheet of paper, but is a continuation of .15]

.17 from George H. Gifford, February 1869-January 1870: for turning and boring hubs, sawing for wagon bodies; and for felloes, spokes (some were hickory), cricket legs; credit given for cash payments

.18 from Daniel D. Bucklin, Providence, May 3, 1869: for set of hickory rims;

Printed billhead: importer and dealer in American and foreign saddlery and carriage trimmings, English and American varnish, [and a list of other carriage trims, carriage parts, and saddlery items, including blankets]

Folder 4: bills, receipts, 1870s

All addressed to Holder White, Jr., unless otherwise noted.

All accession numbers begin with 88x815.

.19 from George H. Gifford, January-December 1870: for turning and boring hubs, sawing wagon stuff and felloes; use of a mill to turn hubs; and for felloes and spokes (some were hickory); credit given for cash payments, including a payment from George Sisson’s estate

.20 from George L. Brownell, February 1870-October 1871: for spring sides and leaf; paint; pounds of tire steel; pair rubbers; jack bolt and fitting jack; whiffletree bolt; enameled cloth; barrel of flour; bottles of lemon; spikes mending springs; axle box; fitting fifth wheel; painting, striping, and varnishing new work and repair work; piecing out moulding; strap on dashes; mending hood; patent on top; shaft leather and trace loops; straps around whiffletree; glass for window; set of axles; flax cloth; varnish; a hub; set of Grigg rims and spokes; etc.

.21 from Gammons & Sisson, January-December 1871: for ironing wagon and pole; piecing and cutting rod; setting tires; putting axle together (plate and bolts mentioned); showing horse, etc.;

Credit given for a horse [small credit – perhaps use of a horse, or a sawhorse was meant] and cash

.22 from Daniel D. Bucklin, Providence, R.I., April 5, 1872: for yards of drill;

Printed billhead: importer and dealer in American and foreign saddlery and carriage trimmings, English and American varnish;

.23 from William Watkins, New Bedford, July-August 1872: for “merchandise per bill rendered”; credit given for cash

.24-.25 from Daniel D. Bucklin, Providence, January 6 and September 29, 1873: for wagon bows; and washers;

Printed billhead: importer and dealer in American and foreign saddlery and carriage trimmings, English and American varnish

.26 from Trustees of the P. W. Peckham School Fund, duplicate receipts showing payment for school of Arthur Baker, Isabella Baker, Frank Grinnell, Augusta [spelled Agusta] and Carrie Pool, Fallie Brownell, Clara Gifford, and Willie H. Leonard, money received by Isaac Howland, for term ending February 13, 1874;

[and yes, the name is Fallie, also found spelled as Fallee, Brownell; in the 1870 census, her age was given as 7]

.27 from E. P. Lawton, February-December 1874: for beef, potatoes, steak, haslet; with credit given for sausage, potatoes, hike, tallow, beef; bill settled May 3, 1875;

.28-.32 from Daniel D. Bucklin, Providence, June 11 and 24, August 25, 1874; April 12, 1857; December 30, 1874 [date paid]: for rubber drill; spokes and rims; sets of rims, hickory spokes, Concord shafts; and “bill of goods”

Printed billhead: importer and dealer in American and foreign saddlery and carriage trimmings, English and American varnish

.33 from H. Pierce, Westport, receipt dated June 12, 1878; charges are dated October 1876-March 1877: for freight on boards and rims; drawing seaweed and wood; manure and muck; planks; plowing; mowing; shoats

Folder 5: undated items

All addressed to Holder White, Jr., unless otherwise noted.

All accession numbers begin with 88x815.

.34 letter, from Christopher White, no date: tells Holder White what he wants done to his wagon: new covering, new felloes, new tire, side springs, straighten axletree, paint it;

With additional information from S. A. White: needs stout springs because there are 10 in the family; more about the paint job; put in a linch pin; if the glasses are all right, then don’t need to do anything to them; save the old covering – can be used for mats; Mr. Gifford had recommended Holder White to Christopher White;

Addressed to “Mr. Holder White, present”

.35 information addressed to Jeremiah Thomsen, Westport, from Joseph Thompson: dimensions for a lumber wagon: body and wheels, to be made in best of materials and in woodman-like manner; with some calculations;

Written on back: J., Joseph. J. T. Thomson, Jeremiah Thomsen, [unclear], Westport

.36 bill from H. H. Pierce, June 9-November 26: for molasses, sugar, corn, meal, cheese, pounds of shorts, sausage, steak, horse hire, pork, and a charge for drawing manure

List of names found on items: