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