The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Merriman, Charles B. (Charles
Buckingham), 1809- 1889
Title: Bills
Dates: 1850-1876
Call No.: Col. 86
Acc. No.: 74x221; 86x54
Quantity: 65 items (1 folder)
Location: 34 K 3
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Charles B. Merriman resided in Waterbury, Connecticut. He was secretary and treasurer of the
American Suspender Company, which made suspenders. He served that company until January 1876. Charles Buckingham Merriman was born in 1809
in Watertown, Conn., the son of Sarah Buckingham (1790- July 1870) and William
Henry Merriman (1788-Nov. 1871). Charles
worked with his father as a merchant and later opened his own dry goods store
before getting involved in manufacturing suspenders. He served as mayor of Waterbury in 1869. He was also involved with the Waterbury Gas
Light Company, the Citizens’ National Bank, and the Waterbury Savings Bank, and
a member of St. John’s Church. Charles
married Mary Margaret Field (1806-1866), and they had six children. He died in 1889.
Mr. Merriman was profiled in The Town and City of Waterbury, Connecticut, by Joseph Anderson,
published in 1896.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
This collection is made up of bills, primarily for
harness, carriage, and jewelry repairs, and horse and saddle supplies. There
are a few bills for table flatware, jewelry, and furniture purchases and
repairs. Most of the businesses were
located in Waterbury, Connecticut.
ORGANIZATION
The bills 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 74x221 purchased from William B. Pennebaker.
Accession 86x54 purchased from Branford Rare Book
and Art Gallery .
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Merryman family.
Topics:
Business records
- Connecticut - Waterbury.
Carriage
industry - Connecticut - Waterbury.
Flatware -
Prices.
Furniture -
Connecticut - Waterbury.
Harness making and trade - Connecticut - Waterbury.
Jewelry - Connecticut - Waterbury - Maintenance and repair.
Retail trade - Connecticut - Waterbury.
Saddlery -
Connecticut - Waterbury.
Bills
(financial).
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location:
Note: Businesses are located in
Waterbury, Connecticut, unless otherwise stated.
All bills are addressed to Charles B. Merriman.
All bills are on printed billheads. One billhead includes an illustration.
Folder 1:
86x54.67 bill, from Bowditch & Son,
furniture, New Haven, for ottomans and castors, June 10, 1850.
Billhead
information: manufacturers and dealers in furniture, chairs, feathers, beds,
mattresses, comfortables, spreads, curtain materials, cornices, window shades,
trimmings. Form printed by T.J.
Stafford.
86x54.65 receipted bill, Pratt, Ropes, Webb
& Co., New York City, paid for table wares, Oct. 21, 1852.
Billhead
information: manufacturers of table cutlery; butcher, shoe, bread, and cook
knives; agents for sale of domestic hardware; German silver goods; I. Washburn
&Co.’s pianoforte covering, [etc.]
86x54.35, .13 receipted bills, B.W. Smith & Co.,
horseshoers, paid for shoeing horses, July 1, 1854 and Jan. 1855.
The
billheads are different, and the later one mentions “blacksmithing in all its
branches”
86x54.49-.52 receipted bills, J.R. Ayres, watchmaker and
jeweler, paid for repairs to watch, whip, bracelet, comb, ring, and for
purchasing a silver thimble, July 1857; for repairs to more jewelry, comb, and
pin, and purchase of earrings, ring, clock, rubber comb, and coral beads, Jan.
1, 1859; and repairs to clock, bracelet, pin, comb, spectacles, etc., July 1,
1859; repairs to jewelry and spectacles, cleaning of watch and clock, and
purchases of scissors, parasol, silk guard, pencil, shawl pins, Jan. 2, 1860.
86x54.53-.56 receipted bills, Jas. R. Ayres, dealer in
clocks, watches, jewelry, silver and plated ware, musical instruments, fancy
goods, &c., paid for various repairs to jewelry, umbrella, fan, and tea
pot; clock and watch cleaning; purchases of thimble, scissors, rubber comb,
sleeve buttons, pocket knife, jewelry, etc., Jan. 1, 1861, Jan. 1, 1862, Jan.
1, 1864, April 1, 1864
86x54.66 receipted bill, Rogers & Brother,
[table wares], paid for table and dessert forks, June 15, 1864.
Billhead
information: manufacturers and platers of spoons, forks, butter knives, tea and
table knives [and various other kinds of knives], ladles, cake cutters, &c.
86x54.57 receipted bill, Jas. R. Ayres, dealer
in clocks, watches, jewelry, silver and plated ware, musical instruments, fancy
goods, &c., paid for key, watch, thimble, gold locket, dog collar, gold
stud, and repairs to pins, locket, parasol, etc., Jan. 2, 1865
86x54.33 statement on billhead of Converse &
Jenks, livery stable, Hartford, about a horse, signed L. Converse and C.W.
King[?], Oct. 3, 1865
86x54.58 receipted bill, Jas. R. Ayres, dealer
in clocks, watches, jewelry, silver and plated ware, musical instruments, fancy
goods, &c., paid for needles, needle hook, watch glass, dress comb, spoons
and forks, pearl stud, and repairs to pins, watch, jewelry, etc., July 1, 1866
86x54.37-.38 receipted bills, Charles F. Goodwin, wagon
and carriage maker, paid for repairs to wagon or carriage, July 2 and Oct. 1,
1866.
86x54.60 receipted bill, Jas. R. Ayres, dealer
in clocks, watches, jewelry, silver and plated ware, musical instruments, fancy
goods, &c., paid for watch glass, needles, and repairs to pin, ice pitcher,
Jan. 1, 1867
86x54.68 receipted bill, Burrall & Root,
furniture, paid for repairs to stand, chair, stool, Jan. 4, 1867.
Billhead
information: spring beds, feathers, curled hair and husk mattresses, window
shades, &c.
86x54.59 receipted bill, Jas. R. Ayres, dealer
in clocks, watches, jewelry, silver and plated ware, musical instruments, fancy
goods, &c., paid for sleeve buttons, watch key, needles, and repairs to
pin, fan, parasol, etc., July 1, 1867
86x54.39 receipted bill, Charles F. Goodwin,
wagon and carriage maker, paid for repairs to carriage and painting, Sept. 1,
1867
86x54.32 receipted bill, Cotter & Keefe,
harness dealers, paid for horse brush, new seat on buggy saddle, stuffing a
lady’s riding saddle, and repairs to halters, bridle, harness, etc., Oct. 1,
1868.
Billhead
information: dealers in harness, saddles, brushes, curry combs, &c.
86x54.36 receipted bill, Charles F. Goodwin,
wagon and carriage maker, paid for repairs to wagon and carriage, painting,
parts, etc., July-Sept. 186-; revenue stamp is dated Oct. 28, 1868.
86x54.61 receipted bill, James R. Ayres, dealer
in clocks, watches, jewelry, silver and plated ware, musical instruments, fancy
goods, &c., paid for sleeve buttons, thread hook, watch glass, slide chain,
pearl buttons, and repairs to pin, Oct. 1869.
86x54.31 receipted bill, Cotter & Keefe,
harness dealers, paid for repairs to halter, bridle, rein, saddle, Dec. 15,
1869.
Billhead
information: dealers in harness, saddles, brushes, curry combs, &c.
86x54.40 receipted bill, Charles F. Goodwin,
wagon and carriage maker, paid for parts, April 1, 1870.
86x54.23 receipted bill, J.G. Cutler, harness,
paid for repairing harness, April 1, 1870.
Billhead
information: manufacturer of harness, truck collars, cart saddles, &c.
86x54.29 receipted bill, P.B. Norton, livery
stable, paid for use of hacks, July 1, 1870.
Bill
addressed to Buckingham Merriman.
86x54.69 bill, from Bowditch & Co., furniture,
paid for wash bureau, marbled enameled cloth, cane sewing rocker, July 1, 1870.
Billhead
information: dining room, parlor, library, bed room and chamber sets. Bowditch and Son was located in New Haven,
but Bowditch & Co. is in Waterbury.
86x54.62 receipted bill, James R. Ayres, dealer
in clocks, watches, jewelry, silver and plated ware, musical instruments, fancy
goods, &c., paid for pocket knife and black horn chair for son, sleeve
buttons, machine needles, and repairs to watch, July 1870.
86x54.76 receipted bill, J.M. Burrall,
furniture, paid for looking glass, cover for piano stool, etc., July 1, 1870.
Billhead
information: spring beds, feathers, curled hair and husk mattresses, window
shades, &c.
86x54.41 receipted bill, Charles F. Goodwin,
wagon and carriage maker, paid for parts, repairs to carriage and pony
carriage, etc. July 1, 1870.
86x54.22, .24 receipted bill, J.G. Cutler, harness, paid for
straps, whip, and repairing harness, trunk, whip, July 1 and Oct. 1, 1870.
Billhead
information: manufacturer of harness, truck collars, cart saddles, &c.
74x221 receipted bill, Henry F. Bunce &
Co., crockery, [etc.], paid for waiter, butter dish, bowls, jellies, fruit jars,
chambers, Oct. 1, 1870.
Billhead
information: at the “Sign of the Big Pitcher,” crockery, china, glass and plate
ware, cutler, kerosene lamps, fruit jars, japanned waiters, housekeeping
articles, Weed’s famous rubber band carpet sweepers, etc. The billhead is illustrated with a picture of
a water jug in a wash bowl.
86x54.42-.43 receipted bills, Charles F. Goodwin, wagon
and carriage maker, paid for parts, repairs to sleigh, etc. Oct. 1 and Dec. 31,
1870.
86x54.21 receipted bill, J.G. Cutler, harness,
paid for brush, stuffing saddle, blankets, and repairs, Jan. 1, 1871.
Billhead
information: manufacturer of harness, truck collars, cart saddles, &c.
86x54.63 receipted bill, James R. Ayres, dealer
in clocks, watches, jewelry, silver and plated ware, musical instruments, fancy
goods, &c., paid for sleeve buttons, machine needles, and repairs to
spectacles and castors, April 1871.
86x54.14 receipted bill, J.G. Cutler, harness,
paid for shawl strap, shaft rubbers, spread strap, and repairs, April 1, 1871.
Billhead
information: manufacturer of harness, truck collars, cart saddles, &c.
86x54.44-.45 receipted bills, Charles F. Goodwin, wagon
and carriage maker, paid for parts, new cushion, painting carriage, and repairs,
including repairs to boy’s sled, etc. April 1 and July 1, 1871.
86x54.15 receipted bill, J.G. Cutler, harness,
paid for check hook, ring piece, and repairs to harness and trunk, July 1,
1871.
Billhead
information: manufacturer of harness, truck collars, cart saddles, &c.
86x54.70 receipted bill, from Bowditch &
Co., furniture, paid for skirt board, June 3, 1871.
Billhead
information: the principals in the firm were E. B. Bowditch, J. Blair Bowditch,
and H. J. Prudden.
86x54.16 receipted bill, J.G. Cutler, harness,
paid for brush, hame strap, crackers, and repairs, Oct. 1, 1871.
Billhead
information: manufacturer of harness, truck collars, cart saddles, &c.
86x54.71-.72 receipted bills, from Bowditch & Co.,
furniture, paid for work stand and bracket, Oct. 1, 1871; and for glass, Nov.
18, 1871
86x54.17 receipted bill, J.G. Cutler, harness,
paid for brush, bridle front, web centers, check round, and repairs, including
repairs to skates, Jan. 1, 1872.
Billhead
information: manufacturer of harness, truck collars, cart saddles, &c.
86x54.64 receipted bill, H. & D. Wells,
watches, jewelry, etc., paid for repairs to jewelry (including jet jewelry),
pins, clock, Jan. 1, 1875.
Billhead
information: watches, jewelry, gold chains, lockets, silver plated ware, agents
for Jacot Watch, watch repairing
86x54.27 receipted bill, P.B. Norton, livery
stable, paid for use of hacks, Jan. 1, 1875.
86x54.46 receipted bill, Charles F. Goodwin,
wagon and carriage maker, paid for repairing and painting sleigh, March 31,
1875.
86x54.18-.19 receipted bills, J.G. Cutler, harness, paid
for silk cracker, ring pieces, round reins, and repairs to robe, harness, back
strap, trunk, April 1, 1875; and for hoof cleaner, Paris composition, and
repairs to harness, trunk, valise, etc., July 1, 1871.
Billhead
information: dealer in saddlery hardware, robes, and horse clothing
86x54.73 receipted bill, Bowditch & Co.,
furniture, paid for chairs, camp chair, rocker, stool, Turkish chair, hall
chairs, covering sofa arms, making over mattress, repairing ottomans, July 1,
1875
86x54.26 receipted bill, P.B. Norton, livery
stable, paid for use of hacks, July 1, 1875.
86x54.47-.48 receipted bills, Charles F. Goodwin, wagon
and carriage maker, paid for setting tires, parts, various repairs, new leather
seat, etc., July 1 and Sept. 30, 1875.
86x54.74 receipted bill, Bowditch & Co.,
furniture, paid for repairing sofa, slip covers for Turkish chair and 2 side
chairs, Oct. 1, 1875
86x54.20, .25 receipted bills, J.G. Cutler, harness, paid
for sheets, straping shafts, repairing trace, bridle, harness, trunk, Oct. 1,
1875; and for stirrup strap, and repairs to brush, Jan. 1, 1872.
Billhead
information: dealer in saddlery hardware, robes, and horse clothing
86x54.34 receipted bill, P.B. Norton, livery
stable, paid for use of hacks, Jan. 1, 1876
86x54.75 receipted bill, Bowditch & Co.,
furniture, paid for bookshelf and work at house, Jan. 1, 1876
86x54.28, .30 receipted bills, P.B. Norton,
livery stable, paid for hacks for funeral, April 21, no year; and for use of
hack, Sept. 8, no year.