The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:          William Brown                         

Title:               Store Records

Dates:             1795-1805, (bulk 1795-1798)

Call No.:         Col. 73

Acc. No.:         79x335.1-.2

Quantity:        2  volumes

Location:        15 L 5

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Nothing is known about the William Brown who wrote his name in the two volumes in this collection.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The collection consists of the ledger and account book of a general store in East Nantmeal, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The ledger begins with the initial stocking of the store in November 1795 and continues recording transactions through July 1796. The account book begins with the same entries and continues through 132 leaves, recording an entry as late as 1805 (leaf 78), though the bulk of the entries end in 1798. While alcoholic beverages make up a good deal of Brown's business, sales of other items, including textile fabrics, boots, awls, spurs, scissors, almanacs, knit hose, cups and saucers, buttons, tobacco, bandanas, tea, and molasses are also recorded.

 

William Brown signed the account book in two places (leaves 124 and 132).  Interesting notes appear in the ledger, such as: "for Drawing the Plan of a Furnace hearth pr. Agreements" (p. 101); "for 1 qt. rye whiskey to treat E. Thos. for watching Coal Pits" (p. 131); "for 1 qt. Brandy to take home on the morning his children were sick" (p. 144); "for 1 qt. rye whiskey 1 pt. Remaining at the Castration of her Boar" (p. 128); and expenses arising in the settlement of the estate of Adam Thrue, d. November 27, 1795 (see account book, leaf 50).

           

 

PROVENANCE

 

Gift of Mrs. Marjorie Givin Parker.      

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            General stores - Pennsylvania - East Nantmeal.

            Business records - Pennsylvania - East Nantmeal (Township)

            Ledgers.

            Account books.

            Retailers.

           

 

 

INDEXES TO THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 15 L 5

 

 

Indexes to 79x335.1 [numbers refer to page numbers]:

 

Name index to 79x335.1

 

Buck Tavern    27

Gallagher, Jas.  [no page number given]

High, Jacob     68, 147

Hopewell Furnace   153, 164-165

Joanna Furnace  158

Kimes, Stephen  109

Logan, John     27-28

Price, Isaac    72

Poke, Stephen   11

Rebecca Furnace  159, 165

Simmons, Joseph  4-5

Steward & Caugher  4

Steward, Hugh  20

Stimel, Philip  4

Thomas, Edwd.  101

Warren Tavern  27

Warwick Furnace  [no page number given]

West, Corns.  [no page number given]

 

 

Occupation index to 79x335.1

 

bookseller   4

chair maker   20, 27, 38

chair repairing  109

carting      6

doctor    80

earthenware manufacturer    27

hardware merchant   4

lawyer    139

sawmill   45

tailor   5

tavern   27

tinker  22

tobacconist   4

 

Object index to 79x335.1

 

Chain for watch 135

chair   20, 27, 91, 103, 147

cigar    5

clock    124

coffin   125

cups and saucers     44

glass, window   4

lamp     113

looking glass  139

moulds  149

snuff    4

snuffers  45

steel    103

teapot (colored)  38

tobacco     4

watch chains   135

watch, silver   25, 72, 90, 99, 114, 161

 

 


Indexes to 79x335.2:

 

Name index to 79x335.2:

 

Beegle, George   18

Black Horse Tavern  50

Cahoon, John  110

Fritz, John  26

Irwin, John  23

Kendall, John  64

Lewis, John  43

McClennan, Chas.  61

McFeeley   77

McNeal, Hector  88

Moffett, Noah  122

Morgan Town House  110

Packingham, Robert   85

Root, John   118

Smith, Peter  117

Westner, Henry  [no page number given]

Williams, William   9, 48

 

Occupation Index to 79x335.2:

 

blacksmith  26, 118

carpenter   43, 85

collier   77

distiller  110, 122

furnace    8, 19, 21-22, 32

hatter   3

peddler   61

schoolmaster   61, 117

shoemaker    6, 9, 23

tailor  [no page number given]

tavern keeper    50, 64

wagoner       18