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:         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.