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: Roberts family

Title: Papers

Dates: 1838-1921 (bulk 1848-1890)

Call No.: Col. 55

Acc. No.: 91x6; 92x183

Quantity: 1 box (8 volumes and 32 items)

Location: 16 A 3

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Charles W. Roberts and his wife Martha Cresson Walker Roberts were life-long Pennsylvania residents. Charles was born in 1807 in Plymouth, Pa., the son of Alice Comfort (1779-1841) and Isaac Roberts (1775-1851). He worked as a Philadelphia marble cutter, then as a farmer in East Goshen township, Chester County. In 1871, he built a house in West Chester, at 217 East Washington St. A Quaker, once borough councilman, and one time Director of the Poor of Chester County, Roberts died in 1893 and is buried at Oakland Cemetery in West Chester.

Martha Roberts was born in Philadelphia in 1808, the daughter of Hannah Humphreys and James Cresson. Her first husband, Enoch P. Walker, died in 1838, and their infant son died in 1839. In 1845, she married Charles W. Roberts. They had three children: Martha Cresson (1847-1898), James Cresson (1848-1898), and Mercy Anna (1851-1923). Martha Cresson Walker Roberts died on September 9, 1877, at age 69.

James Cresson Roberts married Elizabeth L. Garrett (1850-1921). They had two sons, Charles C. (born 1874) and Isaac G. (born 1875). Elizabeth Garrett was the daughter of Jane Lewis and Joseph L. Garrett.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Consists of eight household account books kept by the Roberts family from 1848 to 1890; two stock certificates for the "Company for Erecting a Permanent Bridge over the Schuylkill,” Philadelphia, 1838; and 28 miscellaneous manuscripts, mostly inventories and estate papers. The account books trace daily expenses for domestic items, summaries of wages paid to women and men and what they did, lists of tax assessments and obligations, proceeds (that is, income realized, mostly from sale of livestock), and sundry expenses. More expensive items, such as the purchase of a threshing machine, a sleigh, livestock, and the charge for painting a carriage, were place under sundry expenses. The section recording proceeds was dropped after a period of time. Details of the Roberts' lives are apparent in these volumes. For instance, in 1848, they purchased a trundle bedstead and blue Liverpool plates, cups, and saucers. During the summer and fall of 1850 details of the cost of building a kitchen are featured. In 1871, the family purchased a bedstead, sofa, wash stand, rocking chair, hat rack, and a bell for the dining room, presumably for the new West Chester dwelling. Through the years, they purchased several stoves for both cooking and heating. In addition, information on the Roberts family dietary habits, medical conditions, and trips to Philadelphia is included.

Highlights of related documents include an 1870 agreement to build a house; bonds owned by the Roberts family; lists of property Martha received from the estate of her deceased husband, Enoch Walker; papers pertaining to the settlement of Martha's estate; inventories of china, silverware, and other household objects belonging to various family members; and notes about what James Cresson had bequeathed to his grandchildren. A photocopy of a family tree is also included.

ORGANIZATION

The materials are in chronological order.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

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

PROVENANCE

Accession 91x6: purchased from Carmen Valentino.

Accession 92x183: gift of Antonia Roberts Sharp.

RELATED MATERIAL

Winters, Tracey Rai. A Dynamic Look at Material Life: The Charles W. Roberts Family, 1848-1890, thesis, University of Delaware, 1992.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Roberts, Charles W., 1807-1893.

Roberts, Martha Cresson Walker, 1808-1877.

Topics:

Agriculture - Pennsylvania - Accounting.

Bridges - Pennsylvania - Schuylkill River.

Decedents' estates - Pennsylvania.

Dwellings - Maintenance and repair - Pennsylvania.

Farmers - Pennsylvania - Chester County.

Finance, Personal - Pennsylvania - Chester County.

Food prices - Pennsylvania.

Furniture - Prices.

Home economics - Pennsylvania - Accounting.

House furnishings.

Household supplies.

Ice industry - Pennsylvania - Chester County.

Inheritance and succession.

Kitchen utensils.

Medical care, Cost of - Pennsylvania.

Porcelain.

Real property - Pennsylvania - Chester County.

Silverware.

Taxation - Pennsylvania.

Wages - Domestics - Pennsylvania.

Wages – Women - Pennsylvania.

Account books.

Bills of sale.

Bonds (financial records).

Estate records.

Genealogies.

Inventories.

Receipts.

Stock certificates.

Tax records.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 16 A 3

Box 1:

Folder 1: Household account books, 1848-1850, 1851-1853 (91x6.1-.2)

Accounts covering “family expenses,” chiefly purchases of textiles, food items, tinware, ceramics, herbal remedies, household supplies and tools, toys for children, garden seed, livestock, and a wide variety of other goods. Also includes records of payments of tolls, subscriptions, wages for washerwoman and other servants, taxes, etc. “Proceeds,” that is, money realized from sale of livestock are listed towards the end of both volumes.

At the end of acc. 91x6.1 are found accounts for “raising kitchen and portico, &c,” in 1850. This lists the materials purchased and the men paid for work.

Laid into acc. 91x6.1 was a record of Jonathan Robert’s account from 1800 to 1806, pertaining to settlement of J. Roberts’ estate.

Several bills and memos are laid or pinned into acc. 91x6.2.

Both volumes bound in cardboard covered with green paper and leather spine.

Folder 2: Household account books, 1854-1859, 1860-1866 (91x6.3-.4)

Contents same as the volumes above. Both volumes have separate sections for taxes, women’s wages (washing, ironing, house cleaning), sundries (mostly farm equipment), and proceeds.

Laid into accession 91x6.3 were a number of bills for coal, purchased from John J. Parker. The bills are illustrated with images of horse and cart and a railroad train.

Accession 91x6.4 has many bills pinned in, including tax bills and bills for coal bought of Sharples & Hall. The coal bills are decorated with images of coal mining tools. Under Sundries, date of July 3, 1862, is found a list of furniture which was repaired.

Accession 91x6.3 bound in cardboard covered with blue decorative paper and leather spine. Accession 91x6.4 bound in cardboard covered with brown marbled paper and leather spine.

Folder 3: Household account book, 1867-1873 (91x6.5)

Contents same as the volumes above. Many extra signatures have been added to the volume. Also many bills have been pinned into the volume. Separate sections for taxes, women’s wages (washing, ironing, house cleaning), men’s wages, sundries (mostly farm equipment), and proceeds are found. The Roberts family purchased milk from Caleb S. Cope of East Bradford; his bills are illustrated with cows and a milkmaid. Also pinned into the volume is a statement from U. H. Painter of West Chester about the difficulties and increasing cost of getting ice, with Roberts’ comments on how much the family paid.

Accession 91x6.5 bound in cardboard covered with marbled paper and leather spine.

Folder 4: Household account book, 1874-1877 (91x6.6)

Contents same as the volumes above. Some bills have been pinned into the volume. Separate sections for taxes, women’s wages (washing, ironing, house cleaning), men’s wages (mostly “work,” but also shaking carpets, clearing snow, mowing, trimming grape vines), sundries (mostly farm equipment), and proceeds are found.

Martha Cresson Walker Roberts died on September 9, 1877. A cursory glance through the account book did not find this event specifically referred to, but knowing of her death adds meaning to some of the entries.

The Moral Almanac, for the Year 1877 (Philadelphia: Tract Association of Friends), on which Martha W. Roberts penciled her name, was found inside this volume. Pinned inside the almanac are notes about doctors’ visits.

Accession 91x6.6 bound in cardboard covered with marbled paper and red leather spine and corners.

Folder 5: Household account books, 1878-1883 and 1884-1890 (91x6.7-.8)

Contents same as the volumes above. Separate sections for taxes, women’s wages (washing, ironing, house cleaning), and men’s wages (mostly unspecified).

Laid into acc. 91x6.8 was a price list for preserves, jams, jellies, fruit cake, and pickles available from Mary H. Cresson of Conshohocken. [Mary H. Cresson was a niece of Martha Cresson Walker Roberts.]

Accession 91x6.7 bound in cardboard covered with marbled paper and leather spine. Booksellers label inside front cover: E. Eldredge & Son, West Chester.

Accession 91x6.8 bound in cardboard covered with marbled paper and red leather spine and corners.

Folder 6: miscellaneous documents (acc. 92x183)

note: all accession numbers in this folder begin with 92x183

.1 paper wrapper, with name Martha W. Walker, a list of numbers and shares

.2 share no. 1766, of “capital stock in the company incorporated for erecting a permanent bridge over the river Schuylkill,” issued to Hannah Cresson, July 27, 1838; on back: notes, 1840, 1841, 1844, about payments

.3 share no. 1767, of “capital stock in the company incorporated for erecting a permanent bridge over the river Schuylkill,” issued to Martha W. Walker, July 27, 1838; on back: notes, 1840, 1841, 1843, 1844, about payments

.4 “Martha W. Walker, adm. of E. P. Walker in a/c with James Cresson, her atty and guardian of her son,” Aug. 23, 1839. An account of stock and real estate. Mentions her father-in-law Levi Walker.

.5 “Statement of the personal property received by Martha W. Walker from the estate of her husband Enoch P. Walker and also from her minor son Enoch P. Walker, both deceased,” Oct. 23, 1839. An account of stock and real estate. Mentions her father-in-law Levi Walker.

.6 “articles deposited with Jane Johnson for safe keeping by Martha W. Walker, 12 mo. 1842,” and signed by Jane Johnson, Jan. 24, 1843. On July 24, 1843, Mrs. Walker noted that she had removed the items from Jane Johnson’s care.

Lists furniture (mahogany sofa, chairs, card tables, center table, bedstead), feather bed and pillows, dinner and tea sets and other assorted china, glassware, glass lamps, etc. Some of the items are nicely described: “high post bedstead with curled maple cornice,” “blue printed dinner set,” etc.

.7 Bond, Isaac Roberts and Hiram Roberts, both of Whitemarsh township, Montgomery County, on one part, to Charles Roberts and Jacob Roberts, both of Chester County, trustees of Ezra Roberts, March 24, 1852.

[Charles and Jacob were named trustees by the will of Isaac Roberts. Isaac, Hiram, Charles, Jacob, and Ezra were brothers. Their father Isaac died August 13, 1851.]

.8 an order to the sheriff of Chester County to bring Francis R. Hickman, James Powell, and Charles Roberts to court to answer to Charles L. Cook. All this deals with the estate of Eber Hickman; Roberts and Powell were administrators of the estate. Dated Feb. 6, 1863.

[Eber Hickman died in 1862. Francis Reader Hickman was his son.]

.9 Certificate: Lorenzo Beck of West Chester agrees to build a house for Charles Roberts of East Goshen, July 3, 1870. With added note in pencil: March 31, 1871: Roberts has paid the money for the house to Beck.

.10 “copy of F. Fraley’s statement as acting ex. & trustee of James Cresson’s estate, of the investments of Martha W. Roberts’ portion, Feb. 17, 1876.”

Also copies of Fraley’s statements for estates of Richard Humphreys and R. H. George, Jan. 22, 1876.

.11 “copy of statement of trust estate of Martha W. Roberts, held under the will of James Cresson, signed by F. Fraley, Oct. 29, 1877. Also mentions estates of Richard Humphreys, Ann Humphreys [these are Martha’s maternal grandparents], and R. H. George.

.12-.13 income from trust accounts of Martha Roberts, R. H. George, and James Cresson, payable to her children, 1877. Signed by F. Fraley.

.14 letter, William P. Sharpless, Philadelphia, to Martha C. Roberts, West Chester, April 30, 1878. Sends a condensed statement of her accounts, in settlement of her grandfather’s estate. [92x183.15 is presumed to be the statement he sent.]

.15 “Memorandum of accounts settled – heirs of Martha W. Roberts, [by] Frank Fraley, trustee, Wm. P. Sharpless”

.16 “Memorandum of settlement of trust estate of Martha W. Roberts, 4 mo. 27, 1878.”

.17 letter, marked copy, from Martha C. Roberts [daughter of Charles W. and Martha Cresson Roberts], West Chester, to Wm. P. Sharpless, May 2, 1878. Found his account [apparently of mother’s estate] to be clear and exact.

Written on back of part of a printed notice from Office of the chief burgess, borough of West Chester.

.18 note from Martha C. Roberts, West Chester, March 6, 1885, to Isaac Watkin, Philadelphia. Please give bearer J. A. Hammond the package; encloses money to pay for packing portrait and looking glass.

With return note from Watkin, receipting that he had received the money for the packing and that he would do the work on Tuesday [Second Day].

On back: a memo written by Mercy A. Roberts about what was in the package (cutlery given to Emma Walker when she married Isaac Watkin; Emma Walker was sister of Enoch P. Walker), the subject of the portrait (Martha Cresson Walker Roberts), and the original owner of the looking glass (the same Martha Roberts).

.19 memorandum of silver belonging to Mercy A. Roberts of West Chester, and from whom she received the silver

.20 memorandum of silver (flatware and hollow ware) belonging to Mercy A. Roberts of West Chester, dated Oct. 25, 1901, with a note from 1902 that silver belonging to E. L. Roberts [Elizabeth L. Garrett Roberts] has been returned to her

.21 memorandum about silver belonging to Isaac G. Roberts, from estate of Joseph Roberts of Malvern, Oct. 15, 1918, and a note about his mother’s silver, dated 1921

.22 list of solid silver belonging to Mercy A. Roberts, Jan. 4, 1919.

.23 memorandum about “hair colored” china which belonged first to Jane M. Garrett, then to her daughter Elizabeth L. Roberts, and now to her grandson, Isaac G. Roberts, West Chester, April 1, 1921.

.24 list of silver: “This list was given to Mrs. Sharpless before 1.2.1924. Other things were found so a fuller list was made out on 1.2.1924, at time of appraisement with these included.”

.25 silver in house, 1.2.1924 [Roberts family silver]

.26 silver and plate belonging to Isaac G. Roberts

.27-.28 two wrappers referring to a watch; the original wrapper was addressed to Patty C. Roberts [i.e. Martha C. Roberts], from her mother, Dec. 25, 1866. The newer wrapper has a faint pencil inscription, and seems to indicate that Mercy A. Roberts sold the watch.

.29 envelope addressed to Patti C. Roberts, West Chester

.30 photocopy of a memorandum written by Mercy Ann Roberts, about mahogany furniture, Oct. 16, 1914.

.31 photocopy of a newspaper ad placed by M. A. Roberts, advertising for a cook, 1914; also a printed notice from the Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania

.32a-b photocopy of family genealogy chart for Martha Cresson Roberts, James Cresson Roberts, and Mercy Anna Roberts