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: Stewart, Walter, 1756-1796.
Title: Papers
Dates: 1773-1796, bulk 1792-1795.
Call No.: Col. 142
Acc. No.: 90x69
Quantity: 111 items (10 folders)
Location: 34 K 3
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Walter Stewart was a military officer during the
Revolutionary War and a merchant afterwards.
He was born in Londonderry, Ireland in 1756 and emigrated to America
prior to the Revolutionary War. Stewart
served in the Continental Army for seven years, gaining fame as aide-de-camp to
General Horatio Gates. In 1776, Stewart
was awarded a sword for bravery, and Congress promoted him to the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel. One year later, he
took part in the battles at Brandywine and Germantown. Stewart retired from active duty in 1783 with
the brevet rank of Brigadier General.
After the war, Stewart became a Philadelphia
merchant. During the 1780s and 1790s,
Stewart owned three houses in Philadelphia.
He was a successful businessman and from 1793 until 1796 served as
Inspector of the Revenue and Surveyor of Customs at Philadelphia. In 1794, Stewart was appointed Major General
of the First Division of the Pennsylvania Militia. He was a member of several Philadelphia
organizations. Stewart married Deborah
McClenachan (daughter of Ann Derragh and Blair McClenachan, born 1763) on April
11, 1781; they had seven children. He
died in 1796 at the age of 40.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
Consists of 111 bills, receipts, letters from
merchants, etc. that, for the most part, relate to the construction and
furnishing of Stewart's mansion in Philadelphia and two other dwellings
occupied by family members during the 1780s and 1790s. Also present is a contract with Frederick
Kehn/Hehn/Hahn for building a log house on the "Mount Stewart"
property. In addition, there are
manuscripts that relate to Mrs. Stewart's attire and Stewart's Revolutionary
War camp equipage. As recorded in these items, Stewart hired a multitude of
Philadelphia laborers and suppliers to work on his properties: John Ashmead to
hang wallpaper; Isaiah Worrell and Peter Summers as house carpenters; Isaac
Vannost[?], a pump maker who dug a well and then ran pipes; Joseph Wetherill
for supplying lumber; Edward Roberts, a blacksmith for hinges and clamps;
ironmonger George Dougherty for nails, screws, and locks; brick maker Jeremiah
Hornketh and carter of bricks Alexander Miller; and William Sheed to plaster
walls. The manuscripts also include
prices charged, and often the quantity of material supplied. For example, in 1793, Alexander Miller
delivered 5,250 paving bricks, 12,000 good bricks, and 12,000 common
bricks. A year later William Massey
supplied Stewart with 158 feet of red cedar posts.
Several documents record information about the
furnishings of Stewart's home. Most of
the bills for these items are from London merchants and stores. One, dated in London on October 4, 1787,
provides details of a number of pieces of furniture, including "a large
Mahogany Wardrobe with folding pannell'd Doors & sliding shelves at top
sundry Drawers in the bottom finish'd with inlaid patterns & gothic Cornice
good brass Locks & c." There
are also several manuscripts that enumerate kitchenware that Stewart purchased
in London and Liverpool. Finally, a list
entitled "Inventory of Genl. Stewart’s Furniture with what it Cost and
what it should bring" indicate how his house was furnished.
Several documents are indicative of what constituted
Mrs. Stewart's wardrobe. For instance, on April 30, 1782, she paid for a dark
chintz dress, a white mantua habit and coat, a white satin coat, two Circassian
dresses, an olive mantua Circassian dress, and alterations and trimming of a
brocade robe.
One manuscript is from Stewart's military
career. In 1773, he spent £28 for a camp
bedstead and chest, a trunk with brass nails covered with calf skin, locks, and
general camp equipage.
ORGANIZATION
The items are roughly in chronological order.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English, except for two bills
in French.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased
from Stephen A. Resnick.
RELATED MATERIAL
Other
papers of Walter Stewart are held by the New-York Historical Society.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Nesbitt, Alexander.
Stewart, Deborah McClenachan.
Topics:
Building
materials – Prices – 18th century.
Clothing and
dress - Prices - 18th century.
Cost and
standard of living - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia - History - 18th century.
Costume -
History - 18th century.
Dwellings -
Pennsylvania - Philadelphia - Maintenance and repair.
Finance,
Personal - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.
Furniture -
Prices - 18th century.
House
construction - History - 18th century.
House
construction - Specifications.
House
furnishings - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.
Men's clothing -
Prices - 18th century.
Military camps -
Equipment - History - 18th century.
Wages - Building
trades.
Bills
(financial).
Contracts.
Inventories.
Receipts.
Merchants.
Soldiers.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 K
3
All accession numbers begin with 90x69.
Folder 1:
.1 bill
from Wayne & Maxfield, no place, no date, for a camp bedstead and its
chest, trunk covered with calf skin, camp equipage, etc.
Penciled in: 1775? Endorsed on
back: Colonel Steuart.
.2 Mrs.
Stuart’s bill, receipted by Breinat[?], for 3 months dressing [of hair?],
needles, hat, black pin, little double pins, big cushion, pair of lace ruffles,
dated three months after May 27, 1782
.3 Mrs.
Colo. Stewart paid Marcus McCausland, Sept. 18, 1782, for striped gauze
.4 Mrs.
Steward paid Thomas Thornely, Philadelphia, no month, 20th, 1782,
for making silk and white habits, and for thread, fabric, hooks and eyes,
buttons.
.5 Mrs.
Stuart paid S. Evans for making two Circassian dresses and a dark chintz dress,
altering and trimming a brocade robe, making a Sabine[?] habit and white satin
coat, and making an olive mantua Circassian dress, also charges for textiles,
thread, ribbon, lace, etc. Bill dated
April 30, 1782.
.6 bill
from Kent & Luck, London, Oct. 4, 1787, purchases made by Messrs Geo.
Fletcher Son & Westby, sent to Messrs Birch & Leay, Liverpool, on
behalf of Walter Stewart. Bill for
making window curtains, fabric for covering 12 vase back chairs and 2 cabriole sofas,
fringe, tassels, and other trim for curtains and chairs, 3 pully laths and brackets with cove cornices
japanned to match the furniture, mahogany wardrobe (with description of doors,
sliding shelves, inlaid patterns, and gothic cornice), mahogany serpentine
front sideboard table with cellaret drawer, mahogany folding top basin stand
and night table, pair of pier glasses, mahogany liquor case with bottles, and
charges for packing all these items.
.7 bill
from John Watt, London, Oct. 3, 1787, for engraving a carnelian seal for
Stewart, fish skin case for teaspoons and tongs, 2 plated and chased goblets
with gilt insides; also includes a list of items which did not arrive from
Sheffield, including a cruet stand and cruets, candlesticks, bottle stands, and
bread basket.
.8 bill
from James Stirredge, London, Sept. 24, 1787, for bedticks, pillow ticks,
festoon window curtains, brackets for curtains, three small field bedsteads
with raised teasters and furniture for them [i.e. bed hangings], a beech
bedstead dyed with mahogany, set of japanned vases, fringe, tassels, and other
trims, white cotton counterpane, bed wench, etc.
.9 bill
from Geo. V. Nunburgh[?], London, Sept. 24, 1787, addressed to Messrs Fletcher
Son & Westbey, for Walter Stewart, for earthenware table service with
initials WDS, dessert set in wicker pattern, an English china tea set, some
blue and white china, other china, baking dishes, beer jugs, mugs, basins, fish
drainers, patty pans, ewers, chamber vases, plain and cut glass tumblers, wine
glasses, decanters, jelly glasses, salts, etc.
.10 bill
from William Tatnall, Londong, Sept. 18, 1787, to Messrs Fletcher Son &
Westby, for various kinds of blankets
.11 bill
from John Watt, London, Sept. 5-24, 1787, for shoe buckles and bracelets and
cases for these; several kinds of spoons, ladles, tea tongs, wine funnel and
orange strainer, fish knife, and other items, all with engraved crest; plated
and chased tea and coffee urns, candlesticks, cruet set, sugar and cream
basins, teapot and tea caddy, dish corss, egg cups, bottle stands, snuffers and
pans, knives and knife case, etc.
.12 bill
from Thomas Howard, St. Paul’s Church Yard, [London,] to to Messrs Fletcher
& Westby, sent to Messrs Birch & Leay, Liverpool, for Walter
Stewart. For various kitchen goods,
including tea boiler, French stewpan and cover, fish kettle, saucepan and
cover, butter saucepans, skimmer, ragou spoon, soup ladle, colanders, patty
pans, skewers, dripping pan, iron frying pans, gridirons, pudding pans, Dutch oven, iron spoons, pot
hooks, spice box, candlesticks, warming pan, flat irons, bird spit, japanned
plate warmer, London made coffee mill, japanned knife tray, bread baskets,
nursery lamp, candle safe, tea tray, waiter, plated argand lamps, a pair of
handsome princes metal dogs, chamber dogs, shovel and tongs, blanc mange molds,
etc. Some of the items were copper,
while others were brass.
Folder 2: 1792, June-October
.13-.14 from Edward Bonsall & Co.,
Philadelphia, June 6 and 14, 1792, “to commissions for purchasing a stable of
Peter Evans & searching at the different offices”
.15 from
William Hicks, July 6, 1792, for cellar hauling and 8 quarts spirits; the name
of John Hall also appears
.16 bill
to John Hall for Walter Storde[sic], from Samuel Williams, Feb. 20-June 28,
1792, paid July 16, 1792, for mahogany and planks. Note from John Hall: “got for your use by
me.”
.17 from
John Whealin [also spelled Whelen], Philadelphia, Sept. 15, 1792, for days of
work painting and glazing on house in Fourth Street.
.18a bill
of measurement done at request of John Hall and McKinly & Ashton by Thomas
Mitchell and John Robbins, measuring the stone and brick work done for General
Stewart by McKinly & Ashton. Joseph
Ashton receipted the bill on Sept. 27, 1792.
.18b from
Thomas Hale, Sept. 29, 1792, for bells, cranks, handles, stays, tassel, cord,
moldings, front door bell; paid Nov. 16, 1792.
Receipted on back.
.19 bill,
in French, from Desvernay[?], Philadelphia, Oct. 3, 1792, apparently for wallpaper,
including an Etruscan pattern.
[paper is
watermarked]
.20 from
W. George Sudham[?], Philadelphia, Oct. 6, 1792, for pipe from pump to stable
and kitchen, sheet lead for hearth in counting house and for a sink, a pump,
pipe for water closet, for labor in installing the above, and for fixing the
cooler; bill paid July 30, 1793.
.21 from
Isaac Vannost[?], Oct. 6, 1792, for opening and shutting the well and digging 2
canals for pipes, and for shifting pump and fixing in the pipes.
On back: a note written
in pencil, difficult to read
.22 from
Wayne & Sheppard, Oct. 9, 1792, for oak scantling; paid April 3, 1793
.23 from
John Hall, Oct. 16, 1792, for lumber or stone used in stable, cellar, door, and
alley
.24 from
William Poyntell, Oct. 16, 1792, for some kind of paper; paid Feb. 21, 1793,
receipt signed by Robert Caldcleugh.
.25 from
Jones Clark & Cresson, Oct. 15-23, 1792, for heart pine planks and oak
scantling; paid Feb. 1, 1793, money received by Joseph Worrall of Worrall &
Summers
.26 from
Jno. McCullok, to Mr. Worrell for Gen. Stewart, Oct. 25, 1792, for 170 feet of
red cedar; paid Dec. 24, 1792
.27 from Christian Lawrence, Oct. 31, 1792,
for 3 panders[?]
Folder 3:
1792, November-December
.28 from William Rodgers, Nov. 1, 1792, for cleaning cellars and
hauling loads of dirt and stone; paid Nov. 8, 1792.
.29 from
Richard North, Sept. 19-Nov. 1, 1792, for polishing marble hearth and marble
basin for water closet, street stone, and portage [spelled portridge]; paid
Jan. 17, 1793
.30 from
Burrill & Edward Carnes, 1791-Nov. 5, 1792, for wallpaper
.31 from
Samuel Wetherill & Sons, Nov. 1-8, 1792, for panes of glass; paid Jan. 24,
1793, after being examined by John Clawges.
.32 from
Benjamin Morgan, Aug. 21-Nov. 10, 1792, for backs and jambs, and one large
Rittenhouse stove; paid Nov. 26, 1792.
.33 from
John Ashmead, for hanging wallpaper and borders on houses in 3d and 4th
Streets. He was paid on Nov. 16, 1792.
.34 from
Jeremiah Hornketh, Oct. 4-Nov. 20, 1792, for bricks and paving bricks; paid
Dec. 15, 1792
.35 from
Joseph Aston, Philadelphia, Nov. 22, 1792, for mending cellar windows and door,
laying and mending hearths, mending chimney back, walling up a hole and a
window, filling up a well, etc. Paid
Nov. 24, 1792.
.36 from
Wetherill & Truman, July 20-Nov. 26, 1792, for pine and cedar planks,
scanting, and boards. The goods were
used by William Griffith or by Worrell & Summers.
.37 from
James Pattison, Nov. 28, 1792, for stone paving, brick paving, gravel,
labor. Endorsed on back: paid Dec. 1,
1792, for paving public alley between Unions Street and Cypress Alley.
.38 from
Edward Roberts, [Oct.] 9-Nov. 30, [1792], for bars (for stable door, oven, ash
hole, stewpans, cellar, windows), hooks, hinges, eyes, crane, clamps, doors for
oven and ash hole, bolt and plate, rings and staples for stalls, grates, spout
hooks for bath, pair of andirons, etc.
Paid Dec. 19, 1792.
.39 from
Alexander McKinley, Dec. 3, 1792, for building bake oven and ash hole, walling
foundation for kitchen sink, putting down box for the hack, setting up chimney
back, walling up in front of the vault, putting in steps, pavement in the
entry, walling up windows, shifting a window and cutting a doorway, setting up
stove, laying foundation for bathhouse.
Paid Dec. 26, 1792.
.40 from
George Sheed, Philadelphia, Dec. 4, 1792, for plastering coach house and stable
and whitewashing; paid Dec. 7, 1792
.41 from
George Dougherty, Philadelphia, Dec. 6, 1792, for nails, English glue, locks,
catch, screws, escutcheons, bolt, latches, H hinges. Signed Worrell & Summers; paid Dec. 15,
1792.
.42 from
Worrell & Summers, for work at coach house, doing something to cellar door,
and general jobbing about old house in Fourth St.; paid Dec. 28, 1792.
.43 account
of the carpenter work done by Worrell & Summers at Gen. Stewart’s coach
house, measured by Sam. Jones, Dec. 4, 1792.
Mentions joists, floor boards, partitions, doors and door frames,
molding, step ladder, small ketch door, two bins, rack and manger, cornice and
fascia, hanging an old shutter, etc., for Fourth St. house.
.44 from
James Cornish, Oct. 14-Dec. 7, 1792, for columns and stuff for columns,
hauling, hewing, rounds for rack, etc.; paid Jan. 4, 1793.
.45 account
of the painting done by Whealan & Rea for Gen. Steward, measured by [Sam.
Jones], Dec. 8, 1792, for house on Fourth St., for Mansion House, and for coach
house, also mentions a brick wall and for putting in lights of glass [window
panes].
.46 from
John Palmer and Thomas Mitchell, Dec. 27, 1792, for measuring and valuing the
stone work in the stable cellar and pavement and all the jobbing done about
stable and counting house done by Joseph Ashton.
.47 from
W. Wood, Philadelphia, Dec. 27, 1792, for copper house pipe; paid Dec. 28,
1792.
Folder 4:
1793, January-July.
.48 from Roberts & Twanley[?], Feb. 6, 1792-Feb. 26, 1793, for
locks, hooks, hinges, nails, shingling hatchet, white ivory plated knives,
padlock, shovel; house in Water Street mentioned; paid Feb. 3, 1794.
.49a from
Peter Helm, Dec. 5, 1792-April 24, 1793, for bathing tub, large tub, cheese
[unclear].
.49b from Reuben Haines & Sons, Oct. 10,
1792-May 9, 1793, for beer; paid March 14, 1794.
.50 from
Joseph Ashton, Philadelphia, May 27, 1793, for setting up a copper and cutting
flue, sand, lime, paving, walling something; paid July 9, 1793
.51 from
Joseph Mansfield, June 27, 1793, for bushels of plastering; receipt for payment
signed by Mansfield’s mark.
.52 from
Alexander Miller, May 29-June 28, 1793, for paving bricks; paid July 30, 1793.
.53 from
William Sheed, July 9, 1793, for yards of plastering, including a fire place;
paid July 10, 1793
.54 from
Myers & Snyder, July 22, for pump, including handle spear bolt and checks,
nozzle iron, stapling lower box, nails;
with note in
pencil: The above iron work rec’d by me, [signed] Isaac Vannost. [see also .55 below]
.55 from
Jones Clark & Cresson, June 19-July 24, 1793, for cedar boards and pine
planks, delivered to or by Joseph Worrall; paid Dec. 2
.56 from
Isaac Vannost, July 31, 1793, for making and installing a pump; paid Aug. 21,
1793.
[see
also. 53 above]
Folder 5:
1793, August-December
.57-.58 from estate of
Joseph Ashton, Aug. 5, 1793, for digging celler, trimming and painting old wall
in cellar, laying stone, paving stable cellar, laying bricks, walling up cellar
door at stable, sand, cutting holes for setting doors and lintels, altering and
plastering two chimneys; both marked: paid, Joseph Parker, administrator.
.59 from
John Insker, Aug. 11, 1793, for digging cellar; paid Aug. 17;
On back:
receipt for payment, signed by Insker with his mark.
.60 from
Daniel Able, Philadelphia, Aug. 12, 1793, for perch of stone; paid Aug. 12,
1793
.61.-.62 from Alexander Miller, Aug. 12-22, 1793, for good and
common bricks; both marked paid.
.63 from
Finnix Stretcher, Philadelphia, Sept. 2, 1793, for sand and stone; payment
received Sept. 17, 1793 by Thomas Stretcher.
.64 from
Jones, Allen & Wetherington, Sept. 19, 1793, for nails and spikes; also has
name Worrell & Summers; payment receipted by Moses Graves.
.65 from
T. Hinly[?], for hanging wallpaper and border, Nov. 1793; marked paid
.66 from
Henry Sampson, Nov. 21, 1793, for whitewashing house; received the above in
full for King Kaser[?] and myself, signed with Sampson’s mark; on back:
miscellaneous calculations
.67 from
William Poyntell, Nov. 28, 1793, for wallpaper and borders; paid Feb. 12, 1794
.68 from
James Cornish, Philadelphia, Dec. 3, 1793, for stuff for and hewing and turning
columns, and rounds for rack; paid Dec. 19; name of Worrell & Summers also
appears;
On
back: miscellaneous calculations.
Folder 6: 1794
.69 from Richard F. Sparks, Philadelphia, Jan. 8, 1794, to Mr.
Steward by G. Summers, for double blocks, steel cogs, etc.; paid Feb. 11, 1794.
.70 from
John Sidleman, Philadelphia, Jan. 24, 1794, for carriage step measuring 24
feet, 6 inches; payment received by Pollard, Jan. 27, 1794.
.71 from
Reuben Haines & Co., Nov. 25, 1793-Feb. 24, 1794, for beer; paid March 14,
1794.
.72 account
of carpenter work done by Worrell & Summers, measured by [Sam. Jones],
Philadelphia, March 5, 1794, including shingling; fascia, barge, and back
boards; gutters; framing floors and watch doors; step ladder; door frames with
sash lights; ledge door; rack and manger with stall and arches; cornice; cellar
shutters; covers over vault frames; shelves; flooring over the necessary and
under the bath tub; venetian shutters; etc.
.73 from
Ernest[?] L. Baish[?], March 8, 1794, for padlocks; receipt signed by Peter
Ozeas, inspector, paid April 25, 1794
.74 from
Jospeh Wetherill, Aug. 8, [1793]-March 19, 1794, for pine, cedar, and oak
boards, scantling, lath, and planks; with note from Worrell & Summers: “we
had the above for your work.”
.75 from
James Bringhurst, Jr. & Co., Jan. 31, 1793-May 7, 1794, for sleigh bells,
butt hinges, nails, sprigs, locks, screws, bolts, paint, paint brush, tacks,
sandpaper, drawer handles, etc. Worrell
& Summers appears at bottom of accounts.
Payment receipted by B. Cenas.
.76 from
Worrell & Summers, June 15, 1793-March 20, 1794, for jobbing and tending
plumbers, altering bathroom, cutting away and trimming for valley in old roof,
putting on locks at house on Fourth St., scantling for door frames, making
bridge for carriageway, etc.
.77 receipt,
Samuel Dickinson was paid ground rent for the lot in Third St. near Union where
General Stewart now resides, June 10, 1794.
[see also .79]
.78 from
Worrell & Summers, April 18-June 27, 1794, for making boxes, repairing
water closet, rehanging sashes, putting up a partition in cellar, etc.; paid
Sept. 16, 1794
.79 note
from Samuel Dickinson, July 10, 1794, requesting payment of ground rent due on
lot in Third St. on June 10 last. [see
also .77]
.80 from
Francois Reynuele[?], Oct. 16, 1792-July
24, 1794, for [wallpaper?]; payment received Dec. 29, 1794; bill is in
French
.81 from
Caleb Alder, Philadelphia, Sept. 30, 1794, for wallpaper, borders, panel paper,
and for hanging the papers; paid Jan. 21, 1795
.82 Samuel
Scotland[?] measured the painting done by Henry Brame at a house on Third
Street, Oct. 16, 1794; Brame received payment Nov. 21, 1794
.83 from
Richard North, Dec. 10, 1794, for steps at office door and building
stones; paid Jan. 16, 1795 [see also .84]
.84 from
John Moore & Co., Philadelphia, Dec. 11, 1794, for lime, sand, and digging
and laying foundation for stone steps; examined by Richard North, paid Feb. 3,
1795 [see also .83]
Folder 7:
1795-1796 and no date
.85 from George Dougherty, March 31, 1795, for butt hinges,
screws, sprigs, nails; bill sent to Worrell & Summers for Walter Stewart
.86 from
Joseph Wetherill, July 10, 1794-April 4, 1795, for boards, scantling, planks;
paid Sept. 8, 1795; names of Worrell & Summers also written on bill
.87 from
Paxson & Richardson, April 2-9, 1795, for bolt ring locks, clasp nails,
screws, sprigs, glue; J. Randall signed off on delivery; paid June 10, 1795;
names of Worrell & Summers also written on bill
.88 from
John McCulloh, April 21, 1795, for mahogany;
Endorsed on
back: Worrell & Summers, for caps and bases for columns
.89 from
James Cornish, Philadelphia, April 23, 1795, for caps and bases for columns and
chees moldings; paid July 16, 1795; names of Worrell & Summers also written
on bill
.90 from
Thomas Dixey, April 25, 1795, for set of columns; paid July 13, 1795; names of
Worrell & Summers also written on bill
.91 from
Dennis Glasen, May 16, 1795, for digging and walling a well; the name B.
Wallace is written on the bill’ Glasen signed the receipt with his mark
.92 from
Thomas Dixey, May 24, 1795, for pump, boxes, nozzle head, leather; paid May 23,
1795
.93 from
John Moffet, May 1795, for hauling bricks from and to Mr. R. Morris’ building,
hauling away rubbish, sand, hauling scaffolding to and from R. Morris building,
paid May 26, 1795; name B. Wallace also written on bill
.94 Susan
Thean[?], Philadelphia, June 25, 1795[? – last digit is unclear], was paid by
Mrs. Stewart for a pair of gilt girandoles and a plan of Philadelphia
.95 William
Garrigues, Philadelphia, June 27, 1795, measured the carpenters work done by
Worrell & Summers, including a front door and frontispiece to his house on
Spruce St.
.96 from
Jones Clark & Cresson, May 12-July 22, 1795, for pine boards and planks,
delivered Worrell & Summers; paid Sept. 15, 1795
.97 from
Richard North, April 17-July 28, 1795, for molded door sill and marble plinths;
paid Oct. 5, 1795.
.98 from
William Coultman, August 1795, for work by self and laborer, and for clay and
hauling, paid Oct. 15, 1795; name B. Wallace also written on bill
.99 from
Alexander Symington, Philadelphia, Sept. 3, 1795, for stone; paid Sept. 4.
.100 from
Martin Suguez[?], Philadelphia, for cap for front door and something for the
cornice; paid Sept 22, 1795; name Worrell & Summers also appears
.101 from
Zane Chapman & Co., Oct. 23, 1795, for molding, paid March 2, 1796; names
of Worrell & Summers also written on bill
.102 from
Worrell & Suumers, Jan. 12, 1796, for work done in drawing rrom, flor
altering and hanging sashes and door
.103 from
Zane Chapman & Co., Oct. 23, 1795-Jan. 22, 1796, for sprigs, sash cord, HL
hinges, pullies and pins, paid March 2, 1796; names of Worrell & Summers
also written on bill
.104 wrapper,
on which is written: Bills of house in Third Street, paid for 1795 and 1796:
and in pencil: house bills of Col. Stewart.
Original contents of this packet are unknown.
.105 from
Benjamin Price, August 6, no year, for lightening rods, brasses and joints,
hooks, etc., paid Aug. 20
.106 from
Button & Masses, no date, for red cedar posts; name of Worrell &
Summers also appear on bill
.107 Peter
[illegible] receipt payment from Gen. Stewart for throwing and pulling[?], no
date; signed with Peter’s mark
Folder 8: contract to build Mount Stewart, 1782
.108 agreement
between Frederick Kehn/Hehn/Hahn & Colo. Stewart for building a house at
Mount Stewart, March 4, 1782.
Frederick
was to build a house of squared timbers one story and a half high. Other specifications for the house were given
in this contract.
On reverse:
acknowledgment of receipts of payments, March 28-May 20, 1782. These were usually signed by Frederick’s
partner, but his signature, being in German script, is not easy to read.
Frederick’s
surname is spelled three ways: Kehn, Hehn, and Hahn (which is his signature).
Folder 9: miscellaneous bills and typescripts
.109 bill from John Cottinger to Alexander Nesbitt, July 1781-Feb. [1792], for making coatees,
overalls, nankeen waistcoat and breeches, black silk breeches, corduroy
waistcoat and breeches, flannel waistcoat and drawers, also for altering
articles of clothing and for textiles, thread, and buttons.
It is not
known how this came into the Stewart papers, although Nesbitt knew Stewart.
[no acc. no.] hand-written copies of two letters from Alexander Nesbitt,
Philadelphia, to Stewart, dated June 26, 1785 and Jan. 29, 1786, about the
tenants of Stewart’s properties. [Locations
of the original letters is not given.]
[no acc. no.] typed copy of letter from Stewart, in London, to Alick [perhaps Alexander
Nesbitt], Sept. 5, 1787, about returning to America and about a furniture
order. [Location of original not given.]
[no acc. no.] typed copy of account
of carpenters done by Messrs. Sorber & Younker for Gen. Walter Stewart at
his country seat near the fall, measured by Saml. Jones and Wm. Williams. Mentions piazzas, shutters, window and door
frames, jambs and moldings, floor boards and joists, shelves and partitions,
sash lights, putting up balusters, repairing dormers, etc., July 10, 1790. [Location of original not given.]
Folder 10: Inventory of furniture
.110 “Inventory of Genl. Stewart’s furniture with what it coast and
what it should bring.” No date.
The costs of
the articles are given, but no estimate of what they should bring.
Includes fire dogs, tongs and shovels, scones,
candlesticks, brass caps for the chariot, pair of dressing tables; Pembroke,
dining, and pier tables; half-round side board, common bedsteads, sofa, 3 dozen
chairs, mahogany cradle, table cross, soup ladle and spoon, strainer and
funnel, Marseilles and Indian chintz counterpanes, coffee pot, table and tea
spoons and other pieces of silver, 3 pairs of elegant pier looking glasses, elegant
chintz bed, elegant mahogany bedstead (which is further described), settee and
chairs, French and Wilton carpets, stair carpeting, green chairs, rush bottom
chairs, chest of drawers, looking glass, beds, and a chintz bed quilt with
fringe.