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:         Ashton Family                                   

Title:               Papers

Dates:             1760-1876, bulk 1790-1804

Call No.:         Col. 263         

Acc. No.:        62x60, 93x51, and others (see detailed description)

Quantity:        2 boxes and 1 folder (ca. 400 items)

Location:        15 K 4 and Map Case 3, drawer 1

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Several generations of the Ashton family are represented in these papers, and as names repeat down through the generations, the members of the family have not been properly sorted because of the limited genealogical resources available at this repository.  Although the oldest generation had been reported to be Isaac Ashton (d. 1809) and Elizabeth Reynolds, the Isaac Ashton who died in 1809 left a will, wherein he does not mention his wife’s name and mentions only children Jonathan and Mary.  It is believed that this Isaac Ashton is not part of the family represented by the papers in this collection. 

 

The progenitor of the generations herein represented seems to be the house carpenter John Ashton.  A family tree lists his life dates as 1738-1800 and his wife as Mary Fenton (1742-1808).   His sons, Isaac (d. 1818 in Haverford) and Samuel Ashton (d. 1837), were both cabinetmakers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, although they had also worked with their father in the building trade.  The peak of the sons’ furniture business appears to have been from 1790 to 1800.  The Ashtons were also involved in retailing and joint real estate ventures, including maintaining and operating farms.   

 

The cabinetmakers are reported to have had a brother John Ashton (1768-1855), who married Rebecca Scull (1777-1850).  He may have been the tailor John Ashton.  Among John’s children was son Samuel, who was listed as a clothier in the 1850 census.

 

Cabinetmaker Isaac Ashton was married to a woman named Elizabeth.  They eventually retired to a farm in Haverford township, Delaware County, probably around 1809.   She belonged to the Haverford Friends Meeting, and was still alive in February 1826.  It is not clear if she is the Elizabeth Ashton who died in Haverford in February 1830.  The John Ashton who was an administrator of Isaac’s estate in 1818 may have been a brother.  (Isaac Ashton died intestate.)  One family tree listed his children as Elizabeth, Isaac M., Mary, Samuel F., and Thomas, but these names have not been confirmed.

 

Cabinetmaker Samuel Ashton (1773-1837) married Catherine L. Reynolds, the daughter of John and Catherine Reynolds. (After John Reynolds died, Catherine Kuhn married widower John Kuhn in 1804.)  A document pertaining to the settlement of Catherine Kuhn’s estate lists these children for Catherine Reynolds Ashton: Isaac S., John R., Samuel R., Augustus S., Albert B., Alfred R., and Adolfus H. (who became a doctor).

 

It is not clear if the John Ashton identified as a tailor in one document was the same John Ashton who served as a ship’s mate.  Nor is it clear where either of these Johns fits into the family tree, although the tailor is believed to be the brother of the cabinetmakers Isaac and Samuel. 

 

It is also not clear who was the father of Phebe Ashton Reynolds (married 1792, died 1804).  Bills for her funeral were sent to Samuel Ashton, so he may have been her father, although a family tree listed her father as John Ashton (born 1768).

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The collection, consisting of both business and family papers, documents the activities of the Ashton family of Philadelphia, including father John's carpentry business, the cabinetmaking activities of brothers Isaac and Samuel, and other family members and activities, from 1708 to 1876.  The business papers consist of account books, daybooks, accounts, bills, receipts, and orders.  Those relating to the cabinetmaking business of Samuel Ashton provide information on the relationship between journeymen and masters.  These include boarding records and information on what was produced by whom, wages earned and spent, furniture forms, clientele, woods used, and sources of supplies.  The records further demonstrate how the crafts of carpentry, coach making, and cabinetmaking would overlap.

 

Among the legal documents are indentures for apprentices, papers regarding law suits that involved Isaac and John Ashton, building contracts, promissory notes, and records of bankruptcy proceedings.  The estate records feature inventories of the estate of Joseph Ashton (1708) and Isaac Ashton (1818) and administrative papers for the estate of Samuel Ashton (1849) and Catherine Kuhn (1831).  Papers relating to real estate include receipts for payment of ground rent, mortgages, deeds, and leases.  Household accounts mention taxes paid, measurements for carpentry work, and purchases of shoes, boots, food, and sundry items.  Finally, the letters concern improvements to property owned by the Ashtons, real estate transactions, and family matters for the Ashton, Kuhn, and Reynolds families.

 

A large portion of the collection was acquired in 1962.  Miscellaneous material relating to the family obtained in subsequent years has been incorporated with the original accession.  In 1993, another significant acquisition of Ashton material, complementing items already in the collection, was added.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

           

The collection has been organized into 6 series: business papers, legal documents, estate records, real estate, household accounts, and letters.  Within each series, the papers are arranged chronologically.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

 

 

PROVENANCE

           

Accession 62x60: purchased from Earl E. Moore.

Accession 70x63: 

Accession 93x51: purchased from Steve Resnick.

Others: purchased from various sources.

 

 

RELATED MATERIAL:

 

Thesis based on this collection: Heckscher, Morrison H.  The Organization and Practice of Philadelphia Cabinetmaking Establishments, 1790-1820, University of Delaware, 1964.

 

Samuel Ashton’s account book, accession 62x60.2, mentions George Ritter as working for him.  George Ritter was a cabinetmaker and undertaker in Philadelphia; his account books are Fol. 419 at this repository.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

People:

            Ashton family.

Kuhn family.

Reynolds family.

           

            Ashton, Catherine Louisa Reynolds.

Ashton, Isaac, died 1818.

Ashton, John, house carpenter.

Ashton, Joseph, d. 1708.

            Ashton, Phebe.

Ashton, Samuel, circa 1773-1837.

Ashton, Thomas B.

            Reynolds, John N., circa 1780-

           

           

 

Topics:

Freemasons.

Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

           

            Apprentices.

Business records - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Carpentry.

Clothing and dress.

Decedents' estates - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

            Dwellings - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Dyes and dyeing – Equipment and supplies.

Family – Correspondence.

Furniture industry and trade - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

            Furniture - Prices.

            Furniture making.

            Furniture - Repairing.

            Hardware.

            Home economics - Accounting - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

House construction - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

            Inventories of decedents' estates - Pennsylvania – Delaware County.

Inventories of decedents' estates - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Journey workers - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Lumber trade.

Manners and customs.

Real property, Exchange of - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Rent charges.

Shoes.

Tools.

Wages - Furniture workers.

           

            Accounts.

            Account books.

            Bills of sale.

            Deeds.

Estate inventories.

Estate records.

Financial records.

Indentures.

            Land surveys.

Leases.

            Legal documents.

Letters.

            Marriage certificates.

            Purchase orders.

            Receipts.

            Tax records.

Wills.

           

            Cabinetmakers.

            Carpenters.

Furniture makers.

            Tailors.

           

 


 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 15 K 4 and Map Case 3, drawer 1

 

 

 

Series I: Business papers

 

Box 1:

 

Folder 1:          62x60.6           note from Charles Logan to John Ashton about accounts with William Logan and Richard Plummer, Oct. 28, 1771

                        62x60.7           bill, Samuel Wilkinson to Isaac Ashton, January 2, 1774, for brass work for harness, saddle trees, shingles for Charles Burton, etc.

                        62x60.8           bill to John Briggs, 1775, for making gate, cider mill, boards, etc., and sawing by Robert Lougherdy

                        62x60.9           bill or receipt to John Ashton, 1776, for boarding Lizzy and children

                        62x60.10         bill to John Ashton, 1776, on account of Elizabeth Ashton, with other notes

                        62x60.11         “John Ashton please to pay the executors of Francis Smedley,” signed Thos. Cookson, June 12, 1777, with receipt for delivery signed by Ann Smedley

 

Folder 2:          62x60.1a-d      Account book, 1777-1794, recording purchases of furniture, charges against workmen, furniture made and mended, etc.; also sawing boards and scantling, and erecting buildings.  The names John, Isaac, and Samuel Ashton appear in this volume, with accounts settled by John Ashton and Isaac Ashton.

                        [index to volume is appended to this finding aid]

 

Folder 3:          62x60.26         Measurer's evaluation for carpentry work done by John Ashton for Philip Newhouse, signed by Samuel Jones, Aug. 19, 1785.

 

Folder 4:          63x12              Account book, 1791-1795, attributed to Samuel Ashton; recording people making furniture for him and "partnership accounts" with Pennel Beale.  (Beale’s name also appears in 62x60.1)

                        [list of names found in volume is appended to this finding aid]

 

Folder 5:          62x60.45-81    Isaac Ashton, Miscellaneous accounts, 1791-1799, primarily for furniture or building materials.

                        [list of names found in accounts is appended to this finding aid]

 

Folder 6:          62x60.109-.126           Miscellaneous accounts, 1791-1799 pertaining to joint members of the Ashton family or to unidentified members.  Includes a multi-page list of customers and what furniture was made for them.

 

Folder 7:          62x60.82-.90               John Ashton, Miscellaneous accounts, 1792-1796, mostly pertaining to lumber.  One account refers to John’s sons Isaac and Samuel.  A leaf from an account book has a tailor’s accounts on one side and furniture accounts on the other.

 

Folder 8:          62x60.138-.143           Orders for furniture, coffins, etc., 1793-1797.

 

Folder 9:          63x77.1-.12     Isaac and Samuel Ashton, bills and orders, for harness, boards and scantling, furniture, hats, linen, etc. ; also a printed notice from the debtor Melchor Dexter(?), 1794-1799.

 

Folder 10:        62x60.127-.135           Orders for furniture addressed to Isaac Ashton: bureaus, dining table, bedstead, 1794-1797.

 

Folder 11:        64x58  Samuel Ashton, bill to George Wall for card tables, desk, mending a cradle, etc., June 2, 1798.

 

                        64x59  Isaac Ashton, Bill to Abner Bartleson for furniture: bedsteads, tables, desk, September 5, 1794.

 

                        93x51.16         Bill to Edward Garrigues from Isaac Ashton for furniture: table, bureau, desk, etc., June 1794.

 

                        93x51.17         Isaac Ashton [spelled Austen], receipt from Steward & Knight for 2000 plastering lath, May 26, 1796.

 

                        93x51.3           Isaac Ashton, list of furniture: mahogany bureau, dining table, breakfast table, July 14, 1797.  Signed F.(?) Burkhart, constable.

 

                        93x51.1           Isaac Ashton, bill to Benjamin Newport for breakfast and dining table, bedstead, etc., April 15, 1797.

 

                        93x51.5           Isaac Ashton, bill from John Silvers for payment for a judgment, 1798.

 

                       

Folder 12:        62x60.171       Measurement of carpentry work done by John Ashton for the widow Clark, January 7, 1795, signed by William Garrigues(?).

 

Folder 13:        62x60.147-.150           Orders and promises to pay Isaac Ashton, 1795-1797.

 

Folder 14:        62x60.92-.108             Samuel Ashton, Miscellaneous accounts, 1795-1799, primarily for building materials or repairing furniture.  Also includes a bill for hardware and a quire of patent glass paper, from James Hutton.

 

Folder 15:        62x60.2           Samuel Ashton, Account book, 1795-1803, showing charges against workmen and furniture produced, etc.  Includes a description of a clock case, but no charges associated with it.

                                                The page 2 opening includes 2 sketches of men, one of whom is smoking a cigarette or cigar.  Also on this page is a note about George Ritter, Esq. giving a speech; the man smoking is perhaps supposed to represent Ritter.  (This Ritter is a different person from the Ritter who worked for Ashton.)

                                                On another page is found a labor agreement between Samuel Ashton and Samuel Davis; this is signed by Phebe Reynolds as well, witnessed by Isaac Ashton, and is dated March 5, 1798.   On other pages are recorded the weeks which Davis worked and charges against him for board and clothing.  Other boarders and workers are also recorded in the volume, including George Ritter (see Fol. 419 in this repository).

                                    [index to volume is appended to this finding aid]

 

Folder 16:        62x60.136       Order for furniture for Lewis Dickerson, Enoch Crowell to John Ashton, also signed by Samuel Ashton, May 1797.

 

                        62x60.137       Bill for one mahogany breakfast table for John Flanigan, signed by Samuel Ashton, Aug. 26, 1797.

 

                        72x151                        Receipt for desk, cradle, and bedstead purchased from Samuel Ashton by John Holt, Dec. 3, 1797.

 

                        75x299.2         Receipt to Isaac Ashton from Joseph Hudell for lumber, 1800.

 

Folder 17:        62x160.175-.187         Samuel Ashton, Accounts, 1800-1804, for making and

                        93x51.15                     repairing furniture.  Also bills to Ashton for hardware and textiles.  Includes records of work done for Ashton by various journeymen.  Also includes bills for funeral of Phebe Reynolds, 1804.

 

Folder 18:        62x60.191       Samuel Ashton (?), Day book, recording furniture repairs, charges for putting up bedsteads, labor, etc. July-Dec. 1801.

 

                        70x63  Samuel Ashton (?), Day book, recording furniture making and repairs.  Such furniture types as bedsteads, chairs, coffins, and tables are mentioned.  He took down and put up bedsteads, lengthened cornices, made brackets and yardsticks, put rockers on a chair, and mended a washing machine. 

                                                The last two pages of the volume contain a poem.  "Guaging mens. Ashton, brush" is written on back cover.

                                                [note: this item was once separately cataloged as Doc. 509 and was attributed to Isaac S. Ashton, whose name is written in the volume, along with names of Thomas Young, Samuel Davis, and John Reynolds.  However, it is now believed to have been kept by Samuel Ashton.  His son Isaac S. Ashton was too young to have been the keeper of this volume, and the Philadelphia city directory for the time does not list another Isaac Ashton.]

           

 

Folder 19:        62x60.188-190                        Isaac Ashton, Accounts, 1800-1804.

 

Folder 20:        62x60.332, .334, .336, .338, .340, .344, .347, .350-.351,

                        Miscellaneous business papers: bills for furniture and other goods, details of house construction, carpentry work, etc. no date.  Variously addressed to John, Isaac, and Samuel Ashton.

 

                        93x51.2           Receipt for furniture (card table, canopied bedstead, and breakfast table), “the furniture by John Carr,” signed by Peter Graves [or Groves], Jr. n.d.

 

 


 

Series II: Legal documents

 

Box 1:

 

Folder 21:        62x60.12-.14   Promissory notes involving John Ashton, 1770-1771, 1777.  Other names on notes: George Dillon, James Murdaugh, Josiah Lewis, Thos. Cookson, and Richard Morris (of Willistown, a mason; his note records that John Ashton also lived in Willistown)

 

Folder 22:        62x60.17         Power of attorney, Elizabeth Ashton to her brother, John Ashton, both of Willistown, for him to receive money from Hannah Beates (also known as Hannah Yerkes, of Philadelphia), March 27, 1776.  Elizabeth notes that the money is from the estate of her father Isaac Ashton.  Elizabeth signed with her mark.

 

Folder 23:        62x60.31         Marriage certificate, William Reynolds to Phebe Ashton, Feb. 26 [or 20], 1792, signed by Protestant minister Henry Helmuth, document signed on March 3, 1792.

                                                [Although Helmuth clearly wrote the groom’s name as Reynolds, other sources indicate that the groom’s name was Reinhold or Reinholds, and that he was a doctor.]

 

Folder 24:        62x60.44         Indenture.  Otto James, son of Thomas James (deceased) of Woodshaven, New Jersey, apprenticed to Isaac Ashton, Sept. 21, 1792.  Samuel James signed as Otto’s “next friend.”  On a printed form.

 

Folder 25:        62x60.163-164                        Building contracts, Isaac Ashton with Jacob Vogdes, and John Ashton (house carpenter of Philadelphia) with Michael Crouse, 1794-1795.

 

Folder 26:        62x60.37-.38   Lawsuits involving John Ashton, 1794-1796:

                                    .37       George Mangold v. John Ashton, Sept. 1794, including court costs;

                                    .38       Samuel P. Griffiths v. Thomas Waters, June 1796, bill of costs addressed to John Ashton.

 

Folder 27:        62x60.32-.36   Lawsuits involving Isaac Ashton, 1796-1799:

                                    .32       Jacob Mitchell v. Isaac Ashton, Sept. 1796;

                                    .33       John Folwell v. Isaac Ashton, March 1797;

                                    .34       John Crawford v. Thomas Waters, receipt from Isaac Ashton, April, 1797;

                                    .35       John Stowers v. John Sepplee, receipt from Isaac Ashton, May 27, 1797;

                                    .36       Samuel Gano (innkeeper, Philadelphia) and Isaac Ashton (cabinetmaker, Philadelphia) v. Henry Rees, May 1799.  Replevin bond, listing many household items.  Printed form

 

Folder 28:        62x60.41         Garwood & Forbes v. the schooner Genet, owned by John Ashton, tailor, and Samuel Ashton, cabinetmaker, Nov. 1796.  [see also acc. 93x51.7]

 

                        62x60.40         Protest made by Benjamin Phillips against Isaac Ashton, John Ashton, and Paul Beck, Jr., March 6, 1797.  On a printed form.

 

Folder 29:        93x51.7           Indemnifying bond, Samuel and Isaac Ashton to John Baker, sheriff, Sept. 1797.  In case of Joseph Garwood and Arthur Forbes against John Ashton.  Printed form.  [see also acc. 62x60.41]

 

                        93x51.21         Agreement between Enoch Crowell, captain of the ship Jennet and Samuel Ashton that John Ashton will serve as a mate on the ship Jennet, Jan. 27, 1797.

 

Folder 30:        62x60.144       permission given to Isaac Ashton to sell goods, signature illegible, 1799.  On back: credits of Mrs. Wills at a store, for flour, sugar, coffee, etc.

 

                        62x60.145       Notice of bankruptcy, Henry Kinsley to Isaac Ashton, June 24, 1799.  Printed form.

 

                        62x60.146       Notice of bankruptcy, Wm. Paine to Isaac Ashton, Dec. 12, 1799.

 

                        62x60.195       Notice of bankruptcy, Joseph English to Isaac Ashton, Dec. 8, 1800.

 

                        62x60.196       Notice of bankruptcy, Henry King to Samuel Ashton, Sept. 16, 1800.

           

                        75x299.1         Printed notice of a meeting of creditors, Richard Winter to Isaac Ashton, 1800.  Printed form, sold by Thomas Condie.

 

Folder 31:        62x60.197-.198           Promissory notes, Hugh McCowen to Samuel Ashton, 1801.

 

Folder 32:        93x51.4, .8      Assignments of Thomas Overton's patent rights to Isaac Ashton, 1801.  Overton lived in Windham, Conn.  The patent was for a method of raising and hanging windows without weights or springs.  Documents also signed by John Inskeep, mayor of Philadelphia.

 

                        62x60.203       Release from a patent claim, Frederick Lewis Goch of New York City, in favor of Isaac Ashton, 1804.  Has to do with the method of raising and hanging windows without weights or springs.

 

Folder 33:        93x51.12         Bond and warrant, Isaac Ashton (recently moved to Delaware County) to Samuel Ashton, July 12, 1802.  Printed form.

 

Folder 34:        62x60.213-.214           Summons from the estate of John Couchy (executors: Geraldus Stockdale, John McCara, and Alexander Steel) against Samuel and John Ashton, yeomen, 1811.  Printed forms.

 

Folder 35:        62x60.210       Isaac Smith received a note from John Ashton, Joseph Wilson, and Cornelius Corson in favor of Isaac Ashton, May 5, 1819.

 

                        62x60.211       letter, Isaac Smith, Cape May, to George Reece, Philadelphia, requesting Reece to tell Mr. Ashton that he has been unable to collect the money from Joseph Wilson and Cornelius Corson, Sept. 7, 1819.

 

                        62x60.212       judgment about notes of Hannah Haskel(? or Hacket) for money owed to Samuel Ashton, signed by Isaac A. Reynolds and Catherine L. Ashton, 1813.

 

Folder 36:        93x51.10         Indenture of apprenticeship, Samuel A. Reynolds, aged 17, to Alexander Turnbull, cabinetmaker, June 17, 1817.  Signed by Samuel Ashton, an uncle acting as guardian to Reynolds.  Printed form.

 

Folder 37:        62x60.263       Power of Attorney, John Barnet to act for Samuel Ashton, 1822.  Barnet was a husbandman in New Castle County, Delaware.  Ashton lived in the Southwark district of Philadelphia, but had a farm in Appoquinimink Hundred in New Castle County, adjoining that of Robert Taylor.

 

                        62x60.264       Power of attorney granted to Samuel Ashton, cabinetmaker in Southwark, to act for Isaac M. Ashton, hatter in Philadelphia, and the heirs of Isaac Ashton, April 28, 1832.  Mentions the property in Appoquinimink Hundred, which had been purchased by Isaac and Samuel Ashton from Joshua C. Parke.

 

Folder 38:        62x60.280       letter, John Ashton, Philadelphia, to nephews Albert, Alfred, and Adolphus Ashton, Philadelphia, Aug. 10, 1850.  Requests that they furnish him an account of the money he is supposed to have received on their behalf.  [see also 62x60.352]

 

                        62x60.281       three certificates from three different courts stating that no unsatisfied judgments against Isaac S., Albert B., Alfred R., or Adolphus Ashton had been found, May 1852.  All printed forms.

 

                        62x60.282       note to the brothers Ashton about renting a house to Mr. McHenry, sent by Leml. Bery[?], April 11, 1857.

 

                        62x60.283       private memorandum of A.B. Ashton, 1857.  Lists names and amounts of debits and credits.

 

                        62x60.284       bond of indemnity, Luther C. Edmunds, painter, to William Kennedy, grocer, both in Philadelphia, against work done and materials furnished for two houses on Jackson St. above Washington St.  Witnessed by Isaac S. Ashton and John R. Ashton of Ashton Brothers Southern Real Estate Agency.

 

                        62x60.285       certificate of membership for Isaac S. Ashton in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 1876.  Printed form with illustrations and red seal; printed by W, H. Dougal, Georgetown, D.C.

 

                        62x60.286       certificate of membership for Albert B. Ashton as a Master Mason, Oct. 26, A.L. 5844.  In English and French.  Printed form with illustrations, with seal of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

 

Folder 39:        76x50.2           Promissory note.  Adolphus H. Ashton with John R. and Isaac S. Ashton, estate administrators, 1849.  About the estate of cabinetmaker Samuel Ashton.

 

Folder 40:        62x60.337       Summons to John Ashton, signed by Thomas Wynn and Thomas Waters, no date, but probably circa 1796.

 

                        62x60.270       Note, Jno. Purdon to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, March 22, 1833.  Insists that Ashton pay his ground rent.

                                                Another, later hand wrote several names , a list of livestock, and did some mathematical computations.

 

                        62x60.271       release of liens to Isaac S. Ashton and Hamlet Pearson, both of Southwark, house carpenters, signed by several men who had worked on a house in Moyamensing, such as the plumber, painter, and bricklayer, or who had supplied materials for a house, December 6, 1839.

 

 


 

Series III: Estate records

 

Box 1:

 

Folder 41:        Ph-688             Inventory of the personal estate of Joseph Ashton, yeoman of Dublin township, Philadelphia, 1708.  It included a maid servant and a Negro boy.

                                                Joseph Ashton’s relationship to the rest of the Ashtons is unknown.  He lived 1654-1708, and the Joseph Ashton who signed the inventory was probably his son, who lived 1682-1751.

 

Folder 42:        62x60.204-.206           Inventory of the estate of Isaac Ashton, 1818.  Includes wearing apparel, furniture, household goods, livestock, farm tools.  (incomplete)

                                                Elizabeth Ashton of Haverford township;  John Ashton, gentleman of Philadelphia; Samuel Ashton, cabinetmaker of Philadelphia; and George Bevan of Haverford township were involved with settling Isaac Ashton’s estate.  Presumably Elizabeth was the widow.  The 1818 Philadelphia city directory lists two John Ashtons: a tailor and a cooper. 

 

Folder 43:        62x60.232       List of fees paid by John Ashton, executor of the estate of Isaac Ashton, to the sheriff of New Castle County, Delaware, recorded April 13, 1829.

 

Folder 44:        62x60.329-.330           Will and division of the estate of Catherine Kuhn, 1831.  Lists heirs as Catherine Ashton and the children of sons David Reynolds (Catharine, Rebecca, and Christian) and John Reynolds (Rebecca, Ann, and Catherine).  The names of the Ashton children are also listed: Isaac, John, Samuel, Augustus, Albert, Alfred, and Adolfus.

 

Folder 45:        62x60.277-.279           Administrative papers, estate of Samuel Ashton, 1849.   Alfred R., Augustus S., and Samuel R. Ashton acknowledge satisfaction with settlement of their father’s estate, taken care of by Isaac S. and John R. Ashton.

                                                            (.278 is in oversize folder)

 

 


 

Series IV: Real estate

 

Box 2:

 

Folder 1:          62x60.15         "A Draught Tract of Land called Barley Corn situated on the Waters of Gravel Run adjoining Land granted to Ruben Haines … now in Northumberland County," surveyed for Henry Hesse by Charles Steward, Sept. 28, 1772.

 

                        62x60.16         "The Draught of a Tract of Land called Great Zantzinger situated in Penns Township, Northumberland County,” surveyed for Conrad Hefeling (spellings vary) by Wm. Maclay, March 28, 1774.

 

Folder 2:          76x471                        Bill for ground rent payable by John Ashton to Jacob Stinemetz, 1787.  (On reverse: Bill to Mr. Valey from Thomas Fisher for milk.)

 

Folder 3:          62x60.27-.28   Lease (2 copies), widow Abigail Griffitts to Francis Douglass [also found  spelled Douglas], bricklayer, April 15, 1789.

 

Folder 4:          62x60.162       Deed to property on Mulberry St.  Samuel Ashton, cabinetmaker, to David Allison, gentleman, both of Philadelphia, Nov. 1796.

 

Folder 5:          62x60.152-.155           Bonds.  John Jack, physician, to Samuel Ashton, Dec. 1, 1797.  One of the documents mentions land in Georgia and in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.  All documents are signed by Isaac Ashton and George A. Baker.

                                    Printed forms, printed by Godfrey Deshong for George A. Baker.

 

Folder 6:          62x60.39         Samuel Ashton v. John Jack; receipt for a purchase of house and lot on Arch St.; payment made by Isaac Ashton, receipt signed by Wm. Hartung, March 14, 1799.

 

Folder 7:          62x60.156       article of agreement between Paul Custard of Montgomery County and Isaac Ashton of Philadelphia, about a property on Seventh St., April 13, 1791.

 

                        62x60.157       indenture for property, Paul Custard and Nancy Douglas of Worcester, Montgomery County, to Isaac Ashton, carpenter of Philadelphia; Abigail Griffitts and bricklayer Francis Douglas also mentioned; May 28, 1791. 

                                                On back: Isaac Ashton assigns his interest in the property to his brother Samuel Ashton, Dec. 1, 1796.

                                                [in oversized folder]

 

                        62x60.158       indenture for lease, made between widow Abigail Griffitts and Thomas Waters, laborer, June 15, 1796.

 

                        62x60.159       agreement between Isaac Ashton, cabinetmaker, and Thomas Waters, laborer, about property on Seventh St., March 16, 1796.

 

                        62x60.160       lease, widow Abigail Griffitts to Thomas Waters, June 15, 1796.  Same as .158 above, but with added notes.

 

                        62x60.161       note signed by Richard Robinson, promising to convey a tract of land in Berks County to Isaac Ashton, March 20, 1799.

                                   

 

Folder 8:          62x60.199       Lease of property in Southwark, William Shippen, gentleman of Germantown, to Isaac Ashton, July 10, 1801.

 

                        62x60.200       Lease of property in Southwark, Edward Shippen, esquire, to Isaac Ashton, July 23, 1801.

 

                        62x60.201       Mortgage, William Playford, yeoman of Philadelphia, to John Conchy (or Couchy), gentleman of Southwark, with receipts for cash paid by Samuel Ashton, 1801-1802.

 

Folder 9:          93x51.6           Mortgage, Isaac Ashton of Delaware County, to Samuel Ashton, for house and lot in Southwark, July 12, 1802.                 

                                                Printed form, printed by James Humphreys

 

                        93x51.19         Mortgage, Samuel Ashton to John Lawson, mariner of the Northern Liberties, for house and lot in Southwark, May 10, 1804.

                                                Printed form.  Open with care as the document is torn along fold lines.

 

Folder 10:        62x60.215       Bill of sale from John Deals, yeoman of Delaware County, to Isaac Ashton, gentleman of Delaware County, selling stock, farming utensils, implements of husbandry, household goods, and kitchen furniture, Haverford township, February 20, 1816.  List of the goods is included: cows, plow, harness, tools, crops, furniture, etc.

                                    [ in oversized folder]

 

                        62x60.216       Lease indenture between Isaac Ashton and John Dales [signed Daels], yeoman, tenant under Ashton, Haverford township, March 10, 1810           

                                    [in oversized folder]

 

                        62x60.217       Lease indenture between Isaac Ashton and William Eppright and Simon Litzenberg, yeomen, tenants under Ashton, Haverford township, January 1, 1817

                                    [in oversized folder]

 

                        62x60.218       Lease indenture between Isaac Ashton and William Eppright and Samuel White, yeomen, tenants under Ashton, Haverford township, March 8, 1817.  [in oversized folder]

 

                        62x60.219       Lease from Samuel Ashton to John Pike and John Dent, dyers of Philadelphia, for a building fitted out as a dyeing manufactory, Dec. 20, 1810.  Describes some of the equipment: copper boilers, furnaces, screw press, cutting knife and block, etc.

 

                        62x60.220       agreement between S. Ashton and Mr. Schott about renting a lot with house and stables on Arch St., March 8, 1810.

 

                        62x60.221       lease, Samuel Ashton to John Mortimer, June 10, 1811.  Also signed by Charlotte Mortimer.

 

                        62x60.222       Wm. Compson’s note about renting a dye house on Arch St. from James Webster, no alterations to be made without consent of Samuel Ashton, July 8, 1811, with additional note about what equipment came with the dye house.

 

                        62x60.223       John Mortimer informs Samuel Ashton that he is leaving his house on August 25 next, note written May 23, 1812.

 

                        62x60.224       letter, David Rose, Tinicum, to Samuel Ashton, February 21, 1814, informing Ashton that he is selling some cattle as he cannot count on having access to Ashton’s farm near Ridley. 

                                                Two ships drawn in pencil on address label.

 

                        62x60.225       lease from Samuel Ashton to Thomas Carr of Ridley township, Delaware County, for a plantation in Ridley township, April 1, 1814.  Includes an inventory of equipment and livestock included in the lease: wagons, carts, planes, harrows, sedan chair, horses, cattle, sheep.

 

                        62x60.226       notice of sale of real estate of the late Thomas Parke in Appoquinimink Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, sale to be held in Smyrna, Kent County, on June 9, 1814.  [see also 93x51.20]

 

                        62x60.227       indenture of mortgage, Samuel Ashton to Mary Hood, for property on Delaware Second St., April 9, 1812. 

                                    Printed form.  [in oversized folder]

 

                        62x60.228       note, John Wilson to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, December 8, 1818, about payment of ground rent to Mrs. Pemberton in trust for John Zane’s children.  (paper watermarked Ames)

 

                        62x60.229       bill of sale from Hannah Hacket to Samuel Ashton, for real estate and household goods in Appoquinimink County, New Castle County, Delaware.  Includes list of the household goods: furniture, pots and pans, wheel barrow, etc.  [in oversized folder]

 

                        62x60.230       articles of agreement between Edward Burnet of Appoquinimink Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, and Isaac, John, and Samuel Ashton, about stocking a store and cutting timber, March 18, 1816.  [see also 62x60.209]

 

                        62x60.231       lease, Samuel Ashton to George and Benjamin Bevan, yeomen of Delaware County, for plantation in Haverford township, April 1, 1818.  [see also 93x51.22]

                                   

 

Folder 11:        93x51.20         Agreement, Joshua C. Parke, merchant of Philadelphia, with Isaac Ashton, yeoman of Haverford township, and Samuel Ashton, cabinetmaker of Philadelphia, January 19, 1815, for land in New Castle County, Delaware.  The land formerly belonged to Dr. Thomas Parke (who was deceased).  Document is in two pieces.  [see also 62x60.226] 

 

                        93x51.22         Lease, Samuel Ashton to George and Benjamin Bevan, yeomen of Delaware County, for plantation in Haverford township, April 1, 1818.  [see also 62x60.231]

 

                        76x50.1           Lease.  Samuel Ashton to Mary Lust, widow, and Philip Ridebaugh, blacksmith of Philadelphia, for a house on North Seventh St., Oct. 13, 1828.

 

Folder 12:        62x60.236       Lease, Samuel Ashton to George Bevan, yeoman of Delaware County, for plantation in Haverford township, for one year, April 1, 1820.

 

                        62x60.237       lease from Samuel Ashton to John Clayton, yeoman of State of Delaware, April 1, 1821, for land in Haverford Township, Delaware County.

 

                        62x60.238       lease from Samuel Ashton to John Clayton, , yeoman of State of Delaware, April 1, 1821, for land in Haverford Township, Delaware County.

 

                        62x60.239       beginnings of a description of a tract of land in Northumberland County; receipts for cash received in 1821-1822; and the beginnings of a sign reading “This House to Let.”

 

                        62x60.240       lease from Samuel Ashton to John Barnet, husbandman of Appoquinimink Hundred, New Castle County, August 15, 1822, for land in New Castle County.

 

                        62x60.241       lease from Samuel Ashton to John Barnet, husbandman of Appoquinimink Hundred, August 15, 1822, for land in New Castle County.

 

                        62x60.242       text for an advertisement of a farm to let in Haverford township, signed S. Ashton, March 18, 1822(?).  On reverse: terms of lease, written in pencil.

 

                        62x60.243       note, J. Thnox[?], [?] Darley[?], to Samuel Ashton about renting a farm, [month illegible] 5, 1823.  J. mentions a son Charles.  Also, he uses the Quaker “thee.”

 

                        62x60.244       note, Jos. Roberts, New Castle, to John Ashton, Philadelphia, July 11, 1823, asking for a lien on Appoquinimink Hundred property in New Castle County belonging to the estate of Isaac Ashton.

 

                        62x60.245       letter, Robert McMullin, East Town township, Chester County, to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, March 6, 1823, stating the terms on which he would be interested in renting Ashton’s farm, which McMullin finds is in need of repairs.

 

                        62x60.246       agreement between Charles Bunker and Tobias M. Durney, both of Southwark, Philadelphia, for Durney to purchase Bunker’s store, September 18, 1826.  One of the witnesses was S. Ashton.

 

                        62x60.247       lease, Samuel Ashton to Lithgow Towns, lottery broker, March 4, 1828, for front office on South Second St.

 

                        62x60.248       lease from Samuel Ashton to Francis J. [or I.] Robinson, November 5, 1828, for front office on South Second St.

 

                        62x60.249       advertisement for renting a farm in Haverford township, n.d.  Briefly describes the house and farm buildings.

 

 

Folder 13:        62x60.233-.235           Receipts for ground rent paid by Samuel Ashton, 1822-

                        93x51.18                     1828, signed by Eliza J. Shippen and Will I. Watson.

 

Folder 14:        62x60.343       Plot plan on Second St., indicating positions of a frame house and a brick house; no date.

 

                        62x60.345       Rental agreement for a house owned by Samuel Ashton, to be rented by Catharine, Rebecca, and Mary Price, March [rest of date torn off].

 

                        62x60.335       directions to a piece of property, or a verbal survey (no plat map included), sent to John Ashton and Daniel Beck(?) of Sunbury, no date.

 

                        62x60.333       draft of a note from Isaac Ashton about purchasing a piece of property he had seen advertised, no date. 

                                    On reverse: charges for a sideboard, written in pencil, with separate costs for tapering legs, oiling and polishing, veneer, etc., given.

 

 


 

Series V: Household accounts

 

Box 2:

 

Folder 15:        62x60.3-.5       Accounts, unidentified member of the Ashton family with Mary Muligan, Jacob Doughty, Sarah Cliff and Robert Lowremore, and Charles Logan, 1763 for sundry items, snuff, etc.

 

Folder 16:        62x60.21-.25   Accounts for household items purchased by John and Isaac Ashton from Thos. Cookson, Adam Zantzinger, and unknown persons, 1780-1788, for sawing, labor, knives and forks, razors, shoe and knee buckles, snuff, buttons, hats, needles, combs, etc.  John Ashton bought items in large quantities from Adam Zantzinger, probably for store stock rather than personal use.

 

Folder 17:        62x60.18-.20   John Ashton, carpenter, Tax bills, 1787-1789.

 

                        62x60.42-.43   John Ashton, Tax bills, 1789-1793.  (On .42, the surname is given as Austen.)

 

Folder 18:        62x60.165-.170           Measurements of carpenter's work done for Isaac and Samuel Ashton's house, 1795-1798.  Work done by David Jones, Richard Robeson, Jacob Vougdill(?), Jacob Teniff, and Isaac Davis.  The measurements were completed by William Garrigues, S. [illegible], Joseph Clarke, Gideon H. Wells, and David Evans.

           

                        62x60.172-.173           Measurements of carpenter's work done for Samuel Ashton's houses, 1795.  The work was done by Jesse Jones and Samuel Brock.  The measurement was done by William Garrigues.  One house was on Arch St. and the other on Mulberry St.

 

                        75x298.1         Measurement of carpenter's work done by Robert Dodge for Isaac Ashton at Samuel Ashton's house on Arch St., 1795.  Measurement done by William Garrigues.

 

                         

 

Folder 19:        93x51.13         Isaac Ashton, bill from Zane & Chapman for sundries, 1797.

 

                        93x51.11, .14  Samuel Ashton, receipts for payments on account with Cocks & Co.,

                        signed by John Ashton, 1798.

 

Folder 20:        62x60.91         "An appraisement of wearing apparel deposited by Eli Vallett," signed by John Carr(?), Martha Fenton, and Rebecca Ashton, August 26, 1798.  Includes cloak, gowns, veil and feathers, and trunk.

 

                        62x60.287       Note about money owed to William Reynolds by William B. Johnson, August 24, 1798.

 

Folder 21:        62x60.192-.194           Mr. Ashton, Accounts for shoes, boots, and sundry items, 1800.

 

Folder 22:        62x160.174     Isaac Ashton (?  Isaac is written on the back cover), Blotter, 1800-1802.  Features accounts for bushels of foodstuff, butter, coffee, tea, etc.  Several pages are devoted to purchases made by Samuel Ashton.

 

Folder 23:        75x298.2         Receipt, sent to Samuel Ashton from Jacob Roset for Phebe Reynolds, deceased, for fabric and gloves, September 22, 1804.

 

                        85x26.7           Note, Elijah Chestain(?) to Isaac Ashton, to supply 1200 shakes, 100 gum hubs, and 1 pair of steps(?),  in exchange for one chair(?), April 8, 1813

 

                        62x60.207-.209           Accounts to John, Samuel and Isaac Ashton for furniture and sundry items, 1815-1819.  Bills addressed to  J. C. Parke, unknown person, and Edward Burnet.  [for Burnet, see also 62x60.230]

 

Folder 24:        62x60.265-.269           Miscellaneous receipts pertaining to Samuel Ashton, 1830, 1832, 1836.  Signatures include E.J. Shippen, Wm. I. Watson, Thomas Rawlins, Levi Rawling, and John Barnes.

 

Folder 25:        62x60.331, .339, .341, .342    Accounts, no date, including one with a blacksmith.

 


 

 

Series VI: Letters

 

Box 2:

 

Folder 26:        62x60.29         letter, Adam Zantzinger, Philadelphia, to John Simpson, Sunbury, introducing John Ashton who is to make improvements on some of Zantzinger's land, Sept. 11, 1786.

 

                        62x60.30         letter, Adam Zantzinger, Philadelphia, to John Ashton, Northumberland County, concerning improvements to be built on his land in Northumberland Co., April 16, 1787.

 

                        62x60.202       Unsigned letter to Henry Knox in the Province of Maine, re the collection of a debt, February 1800.  The writer was in Philadelphia.

 

Folder 27:        62x60.288       Letter, John N. Reynolds, Lazaretto [Penn.], to sister Catherine L. Reynolds, Philadelphia, September 13, 1806.  Hopes to be able to shorten his quarantine period.  Please send news.

 

                        62x60.289       Letter, John N. Reynolds, Lazaretto [Penn.], to sister Catherine L. Reynolds, Philadelphia, September 22, 1806.  Please write.  Hopes to be able to leave in a few days.  Hopes she received his letters from Havana and New Orleans.

 

                        62x60.290       Letter, John N. Reynolds, Lazaretto [Penn.], to mother Catherine L. Kuhn, Philadelphia, September 22, 1806.  Hopes to be able to leave soon.

 

                        62x60.291       Letter (not finished), [Catherine L. Reynolds], Philadelphia, to brother [John Kuhn?, Norfolk?], November 6, 1806.   Chastises him for not writing; brother John has told them he is in Norfolk.

                                                Also includes a note, in another hand, about Milly Green agreeing to call for cloth to be washed for Sunday next.

 

                        62x60.292       Letter, John N. Reynolds, Nantes, [France], to mother Catherine L. Kuhn, in care of John Kuhn, Philadelphia, September 16, 1807.  Detained in France on business, but hopes to leave before October 5.  Compares Nantes’ narrow, crooked streets unfavorably with the wide, straight ones of Philadelphia. 

 

                        62x60.293       Letter, John N. Reynolds, off Cape Henlopen [Delaware], to mother Catherine L. Kuhn, in care of John Kuhn, Philadelphia, June 6, 1809.  Commends to her love and care his fiancée Margaret.  Try to persuade her to make her visit to the countryside  a short one.

 

                        62x60.294       Letter, John N. Reynolds, Liverpool, [Eng.], to sister Catherine L. Reynolds, Philadelphia, August 1, 1809.  Has been an embargo and was not able to send letters ere this.  Cannot write at night as they are not allowed any fire while they are in dock. 

 

                        62x60.295       Letter, John N. Reynolds, New York, to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, May 4, 1809.  Hopes Ashton will accept his belated thanks – his previous letter went astray.  Hopes to see him soon and tell him about this voyage.

                       

Folder 28:        62x60.296       letter, Catherine L. Reynolds, [New York], to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, no date [but after March 15; this was written after .297].  Am staying with uncle Grim and am enjoying visiting all their relatives.  David expects to sail soon.  Sends love to relatives back home (and names them).

 

                        62x60.297       letter, Catherine L. Reynolds, [New York], to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, March 15, no year.  Has arrived safely in New York.  Uncle Grim wants her to stay with his family.

 

                        62x60.298       letter, Catherine L. Reynolds, no place, to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, April 3, 1810.  Arrived safely after a rough voyage.  Lists the number of people and animals in her brother’s household.  Misses the folks at home.  Appended to Catherine’s letter is a note from D. A. Reynolds to his mother, dated April 4.  Has a bad toothache and is not up to writing. 

 

                        62x60.299       letter, Catherine L. Reynolds, Portsmouth, to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, April 18, 1810.  Describes Portsmouth and the ladies’ dress.  Have a dancing school, which she has attended twice.  Brother’s family want her to stay until he returns in the fall, but she wants mother to write that she cannot stay that long.

 

                        62x60.300       letter, Catherine L. Reynolds, no place [Portsmouth?], to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, April 22, 1810.  Misses home and family.  Has she her mother’s permission to write to her gentleman friend?

 

                        62x60.301       letter, Catherine L. Reynolds, no place [Portsmouth?], to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, June 2, 1810.  Is eager to return home – is awaiting a boat.

                       

                        62x60.302       letter, Catherine L. Ashton, Philadelphia, to mother Catherine Kuhn, no place, March 21, no year.  Sends news of children Samuel, Isaac, John, and David.  Looking forward to mother’s return.

 

                        62x60.303       letter, Catherine L. Reynolds, no place [Portsmouth?], to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, May 20, 1810.  Was sea sick on her travels.  Wants to return home.

 

                        62x60.304       letter to mother Catherine Kuhn, care of Capt. David Reynolds, Portsmouth, Va., December 13, 1818.  Sends family news.  Letter writer was in Philadelphia.

 

                        62x60.305       letter, Margaret Reynolds, Philadelphia, to mother[-in-law] Catherine Kuhn, [Portsmouth,] October 18, 1818.  Sends news of family and friends.  Is trying to sell men’s leghorn hats in order to make her living.

 

                        62x60.306       letter, D.A. Reynolds, Demarari [i.e. Demarara, British Guiana,] to wife Polly, July 5, 1810.  Is sending letter to Philadelphia with instructions to forward it to Portsmouth should she not be in the former place.  Wants her to write down her impressions of Philadelphia to share with him when he returns.  Has sold his cargo in Demarara. 

 

                        62x60.307       letter, Ann Bayton, Portsmouth, to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, November 28, 1819.  Son Augustus died.  Other news of family and friends.

 

 

Folder 29:        62x60.309       letter, Rebecca Reynolds, Portsmouth, Va., to grandmother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, August  20, 1816.  Family news.

 

                        62x60.326       letter, Mary Kuhn, Baltimore, to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, March 29, 1820.  Hopes to be home in May.  How is Mrs. Cole?

                       

                        62x60.314       letter, George Reynolds, Philadelphia, to madam Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, April 21, 1820.  About her interest in an estate in South Carolina.

 

                        62x60.313       letter, George Reynolds, Washington City, madam Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, May 5, 1820.  About her children’s interest in an estate in South Carolina.

 

                        62x60.325       letter, Mary Kuhn, Baltimore, to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, August 12(?), 1820.  Worried about mother because of the fever.  Misses her mother.  Inquires about the Coles. 

 

                        62x60.312       letter, Geo. Reynolds, Hagerstown, Washington County, Md., to dear madam, Katharine Kuntz [i.e. Catherine Kuhn,] Philadelphia, September 28, 1820.  About her children’s interest in an estate in South Carolina.

 

                        62x60.310       letter, Ann Cruse, Portsmouth, to “Dear Mother” Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, October 28, 1820.  Death of daughter Mary.   News of family; cousins don’t want to go to school.  Signs letter “Your sincere friend,” although it was addressed to “dear mother.”

           

                        62x60.324       letter, Mary Kuhn, Baltimore, to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, December 16, 1820.  Am still well.

 

                        62x60.327       letter, Collin Reynolds, Baltimore, to aunt Catherine Coon [i.e. Kuhn], Philadelphia, November 10, 1821.  Has 6 children.  Mrs. E. Bates died.  Doesn’t know what to say after 25 years absence.

 

                        62x60.323       letter, Catherine Reynolds, Portsmouth, to grandmother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, December 17, 1821.  All are well, except Christian recently got burned.

                       

                        62x60.322       letter, Catherine Ann Reynolds, Portsmouth, to grandmother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, December 1822.  All are well.

 

                        62x60.321       letter, Catherine Ann Reynolds, Portsmouth, to grandmother [Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia,] August 10, 1826.  Arrived safely in Portsmouth.  Looking forward to grandmother’s and Mary’s visit in the fall.

 

                        62x60.311       letter, D.A. Reynolds, Portsmouth, to mother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, September 4, 1827.  Am sending this letter and some figs by Mrs. Williamson.  Would like her to come visit. 

 

                        62x60.316       letter, Catherine Ann Reynolds, Portsmouth, to grandmother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, September 4, no year, but probably 1827.  Am sending this letter and some figs by Mrs. Williamson.   Please come visit.

 

                        62x60.308       letter, Rebecca Reynolds, Portsmouth, to cousin Isaac Ashton, Philadelphia, December 15, 1827.  Wishes she could visit Philadelphia again, and wishes the relatives there could come visit her.

 

                        62x60.320       letter, Catherine Ann Reynolds, Portsmouth, to grandmother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, [no month] 6, 1827.  All are well.  Family news.  With a note added in another hand about sending up Miss Clarke’s clothes.

 

                        62x60.317       letter, C. A. Reynolds, Philadelphia, to grandmother Catherine Kuhn, September.  All are well.  Please send a black hat.  Hopes to come visit.

 

                        62x60.318       letter, Catherine A. Reynolds, Portsmouth, to grandmother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, March.  Father is very unwell – has lost use of one side of face.  Please come visit.

 

                        62x60.319       letter, C. A. Reynolds, Portsmouth, to grandmother Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, August 5.  All are well.  Religious revival is going on. 

 

                        62x60.315       part of letter, Geo. Reynolds, to Catherine Kuhn, Philadelphia, postmarked Dec. 26.  Lost money 10 years ago, but now has a job that keeps him and his family.

 

                        62x60.328       statement about Sarah Clayton Reynolds Evans: she was married to Archibald Reynolds, a tailor, around 1780, and he deserted her in 1807.  After she heard of Archibald’s death, she then married Edward Evans. Catherine Kuhn, widow of John Reynolds, testified to the marriage of Archibald and Sarah.

 

 

Folder 30:        62x60.250       note, Jno. Boyd, Northumberland [County, Penn.,] to S. Ashton, Philadelphia, October 26, 1820.  Father-in-law John Bull cannot certify the marriage of John Reynolds and Catherine Bicking because his records were destroyed by the British in 1777, and his memory is not what it used to be.

 

                        62x60.251       letter, M. King, Charleston, to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, January 31, 1821.  Another claimant to an estate in South Carolina has come forward.

 

                        62x60.252       letter, M. King, Charleston, to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, May 7, 1821.   About the claimants to the estate.

 

                        62x60.255       letter, Samuel and Catherine L. Ashton, Philadelphia, to Mitchell King, Charleston, South Carolina, April 23, 1823.   Thanks him for his efforts to settle the estate of Mrs. Ware. 

 

                        62x60.253       partial note, no signature, Philadelphia, to Mitchell King, Charleston, South Carolina, May 22, 1823.  Monetary draft received.

 

                        62x60.256       letter, Samuel F. Ashton, Cincinnati, to uncle Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, October 1, 1823.  Can live better as a store clerk in Cincinnati than Philadelphia but plans to go on a flat boat to Natchez later in the month, stay there for the winter, and then go to South America in the spring.  Prefers traveling to staying in one place.

 

                        62x60.254       note, James Knox, Upper Darby, to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, [month illegible] 14, 1823.  Requests that Ashton meet him at the farm so he can finish harvesting the timber.

 

                        62x60.258       note, James Knox, Haverford, to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, November 5, 1825.  Can John Weigtman cut a piece of his timber so he can make a wagon for Knox?

 

                        62x60.259       note, James Knox, Haverford, to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, April 13, 1826.  Sold some livestock; has the grass seed; had too much stock to overwinter.

           

                        62x60.260       letter, M. King, [Charleston,] to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, December 25, 1826.  Has been able to close the estate of Miss Mary E. Wiare(?) and is forwarded a draft for the amount to him.

 

                        62x60.257       note, E. Darlington, Chester, to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, May 11, 1827.  About suit against Miller for nonpayment of rent.

 

                        62x60.261       letter, Thos. B. Ashton, Zanesville, Ohio, to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, July 29, 1828.  His opinion of the people in the west and of Zanesville.  Need more manufactories. 

 

                         62x60.262      letter, Thos. B. Ashton, Putnam, Ohio, to Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, February 24, 1829.   Has little good to say about Ohio.  Will Samuel pay the interest which Thomas owes to Mr. Lindsay?  Am teaching school.

 

                        93x51.9           note, Samuel F. Ashton , no place, to uncle Samuel Ashton Philadelphia, October 13, 1829.  Thanks for his help.  [written on board a ship bound for New Orleans]

 

Folder 31:        62x60.275       Letter to Mr. Ashton, recording the deaths of Mary Shade; her grandson Samuel Ashton (in his 5th year, son of Isaac A. [for Ashton?] and Elizabeth Reynolds); and Isaac A. Reynolds, cabinetmaker, all of malignant cholera in Philadelphia, Sept. 1832.

 

                        62x60.276       Letter for recommendation, C.P. Fessenden for Albert Ashton, Philadelphia, 1835.

 

Folder 32:        62x60.272       letter, Thomas B. Ashton, Putnam, [Ohio?], to uncle Samuel Ashton, Philadelphia, March 1832.  Asks his uncle’s opinion about his wish to study to become a portrait painter.  Inquires for information about his brother Samuel and S.A. Reynolds.

                                                [note: Thomas B. Ashton was listed as a landscape and genre painter in 1835; as a partner in Ashton & Browning, dealers in artists’ materials in Philadelphia, until 1844; Ashton then spent some time in Europe.]

 

                        62x60.273       letter, S. Ashton, Cantwells Bridge, [now Odessa, Delaware] to wife Catherine [nee Reynolds], Philadelphia, May 7, 1832.  Business is delaying him in that place.  Sends love to all.

 

                        62x60.274       Harriet Bicking, no place, to cousins, addressed to Catherine L. Ashton, Philadelphia, October 23, 1833.  Brother Edwin died.

 

Folder 33:        62x60.346       part of a letter, Rebeckah, no place, to Phebe Ashton, “present,” no date.

 

                        62x60.352       “copy of a letter sent to John Ashton, Sr., in reply to his request for an interview,” about a dispute over how Ashton handled his nephews’ accounts in settling their father’s estate [see also 62x60.280];

                                                on back: agreement between Albert Ashton and A. Dewald about Ashton working as a clerk in Dewald’s store.

 

                        62x60.348       memorial to John Frederick Bicking, born March 29, 1730 in Germany, died November 4, 1809.

 

                        62x60.349       memorial to Mary Catharine, wife of John Frederick Bicking, born August 31, 1732 in Germany, died November 30, 1782. 

                                    Sent to Aunt Kune [i.e. Kuhn] in Philadelphia.

 



Index to Isaac Ashton account book, acc. 62x60.1, Col. 263, Series I, Box 1, folder 2

 

Agle, Jacob 48

Allen, James  12

Ashton, Isaac   1, [5,6?], 7, [8?], 9, [10?], [12,  14?], 16-18, 20, 22-24,  26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 36, 43, 45, 50,  60, 69, 70, 74

Ashton, John   17, 18, [19?], 20, 38, 78

Ashton, Phebe   22

Ashton, Samuel   17, [19?]

Atkinson  1, 52

(also spelled Atkison)

Atkison - see Atkinson

 

Baale, Pennel - see Beale

Bale, Pennel - see Beale

Balle, Pennel - see Beale

Barns  51

Barns, Stephen  46, 62, 81

Batterson, Samuel   4

Beal - see Beale

Beal, Pennel - see Beale

Beale  9, 60

(also spelled Beal)

Beale, Pennel or Pennell   33, 34, 36, 78

(also spelled Baale, Bale, Balle, Beal)

Benson, Isaac  37

Black, Ednd.  38

Bogar,  Labin  [53], 57

Boltis  49

Briggs  14

Briggs, Samuel  1, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 25, 64

Bringhurst, Esral  16

Bringhurst, Jeral  56

Brinkley, Thomas  20

Briton, John  23

Brock, Sarah  16, 21

Brooks, William  9

Brown  72

Brown, Matthew  68

 

Canady  2, 5

Canady, John  45

Carlile, George  32

Charls  5, 71

Cimber, Jessie  59

Cocks  19

Cokson, Joseph  2

Commot  75

Commott, Jonathan - see Comot

Comot, Jonathan  38, 59, 71

(also spelled Commott, Comott)

Comott, Jonathan - see Comot

Corsa, James  49, 51, 53

Costick, James  49

Crealley, John - see Creely

Creely, John   54, 72

(also spelled Crealley)

Cryson, Jarimiah  31

 

David  30, 40

Davis  54, 60, 61

Davis, Samuel  55, 65, 75-77, 81, 83

Davison  67

Davison, Con.  15

Davison, Robart   [33?], 80

Delaforest  38

Dick, Samuel  68

Dicakson, Larin?  1

(see also Dickinson)

Dickinson, Laurance F. 10

 

Eastwick, Charls  7

Eckfelt, Adam  51, 66

Egley?, Jacob  67

Egner, John  55

Ellod, John  70

Emlen, Samuel  14

Ervin  60

Evans  7

Evanees, Mark - see Evanes

Evanes, Mark  1, 7

(also spelled Evanees)

Evens, David  59

Evin  65

 

Fauris  50, 66

Fernant  35, 56

Finly, James  24

Flemon, Samuel  30

Francies, Thomas  43

Frankland, John - see Franklin

Franklin, John   71, 82

            (also spelled Frankland)

Frith, Andrew   22

 

Gahagan  79

Gardan, William  79

Garden  66, 79

Gargus, William  34

Garret, Isaac  6

Garret, Samuel  4

Geenman, James - see Greenman

George, William  30

Gibson  6, 7

Gideon  70

Gohagan, James  54, 82

Gorge  57

Gorge, Mathew  51

Greeman, James? - see Greenman

Greenman, James 26, 27

(also spelled Geenman, Greeman)

Gregory, John  82

Griffith, Abel  17, 18, 20

Griffith, George  32, 62, 63, 72, 74, 84

Grogon, John 79

 

Hagner  54

Hains  60

Hains, Casper  65

Hentzsinger  71

Herbert  59

Hervey, Cuffe  14

Heston  11

Hilzer  56

Hoge or Hodg  73

Holaway, Thomas - see Holoway

Holoway, Thomas  31, 51

(also spelled Holaway)

Homasoll  56

Homassel?, Charls  76

Hoops, Joshua  2, [18?]

Humphries, Whitehed or Whitehead   12, 14

(also spelled Humphre)

Humphre, Whitehead - see Humphries

 

Inskeep?, John 16

 

Jackson  26

James, Otto  61, 74, 75?

Jeremiah  1

John?  26

Johnson  53, 67

Johnson, Wilm.  44

Jones  1, 17, 18

Jones, Samuel 1

Jonson, Thomas  20

Jonson, William  44

 

Kensel, Philip  37

Kensley, Henry  46

King, Dan  64

King, Daniel  55

King, Tobias  20

Kintzer, John  60

Knox  58, 59

 

Larence, Philip - see Lawrence

Lawrence, Philip 25, [29?]

(also spelled Larence)

Leach?  55

Leavy  51

Lecouterile, Lewis  50

Lewis, Lawyer?  13

Liucuto?, Lewis  51

Lowerry, William  38

Loyd, Nicklas  23

Lum[e]n  4

Lumen?, John A.  60

 

Mairs  17

Mairs, William  18

Man, Michel  36

McCormack, John   79, 82, 84

McGargogan, Naomi  24

McRaneey, Jacob  47

McRoyel, Jacob  71

Megrygary  24

Miars  20

Miller  56

Miller, John  50, 57

Minchee, Jacb?  38

Mires  43

Mires, Henry  19

Mitcheltree, James  3

Mitcheltree, John  3

Molly  64

Moris, John  37

Morley, Richard   24

Morton, Mathias  7

 

Nayson  20

Newhouse  1, 7

Newport  49

Newport, David  53

Norman  72

 

Painter, John (Capt.?)  64

Pery, Robart  48

Peters, Isaac  15

Point, John  68

(also spelled Poynt)

Powel, Benjamin  10

Poynt, John - see Point

 

Quicksal  20

Quicksal, Jaramiah  16

 

Read - see  Reed

Randolph, Daniel 15

Reed   47,  48

(also spelled Read)

Reynolds, William  55

Richardson, Jos.   12

Ritter  76

Ross  54

 

Sam?  71, 75, 76

Sandiford  53, 64

Sandiford, Roland  64

Santzinger, Addam  9

            [probably supposed to be Zantzinger]

Sawyer  71

Sawyer, William  30

Shankland  83

Shankland, Charls  73, 80

Shesler, David  39

Shetsbery, David  45

Shetterla, David - see Shetterley

Shetterley, David   47, 52, 57, 69, 70

(also spelled Shetterla)

Shrowdy, Jacob  24, 27, 43

(also spelled Srowdy)

Silvers, John   49, 51, 53

Simons?  32

Sims, Henry (Hanry, Hannary)   28, 27, 42

Sinickson  17, 18

(also sp. Sinnickson)

Sinickson, Thos.  17 

Sinnickson - see Sinickson

Smawley, Benjamin  3

Smedley, George  8

Smith  36, 60, [19?]

Smith, Peter  6, 29, 40, 43, 67, 80

Smith, Thomas  8, 9, 11, 41, 42, 60, 67, 80

Sprowgal, John  35

Srowdy, Jacob - see Shrowdy

Stonematz, Jacob  18

Stout  5

Stuard, William  3

Stutszinbough   1

Swain  35

Swain &  Co.  50

 

Taylor   56, 63, 69

Taylor, Andrew  29

Tennis, John  4

Thomson   17

Tomson,  Thos.  18

Towns 73

 

Vance, James  31, 32

Vannoss   44

Venebles, William  72

Vince(?) Jacob   9

 

Ward, Jes, Jess, or Jesse  [4, 5, 12-14, 16?], 64

Waters,   5

Webster  61

Wescot  42

West  32

West, John  15

West, Thomas  15

Wheaton  65, 75, 76

Whitaker, Asa   28, 29, 32

(also spelled Whitiker, Whiteker)

Whiteker, Asa - see Whitaker

Whitiker, Asa - see Whitaker

Wier?  34

Wiles, Cornal?   16 

Williamson   1

Williamson, Ralph   1, 6

Willis & McDowell   72

Wilson & Sandiford    53

Wollason  16, 26

Wood  2

Wood, Joseph   5, [22?]

Yernal, Amos  10


 



Index to Samuel Ashton account book, 62x60.2, Col. 263, Series I, Box 1, folder 15

 

Adams, John  1, 3, 23, 24

(also spelled Addams)

Addams, John - see Adams

Alcorn, George  59, 60

Alcorn, Martha  51, 52

Alderman?  11

Ashton & Co.  11

Ashton & Wall  1, 9, 11, 15

Ashton, Isaac  36

Ashton, John  7, 15, 25, 26, 28, 45, 51, 53,  59, 65, 73, 77

Ashton, S.  28

Ashton, Samuel   2, 4, 34-36, 43, 45, 46,  46a, 47, 56, 57, 62, 70, 71,  77, 81

 

Barns, Edward   56, 65

Bartleson  3

Benners, Sebasten  53, 54

Boyle  11

Boyla, Thomas  11

Briggs  7

Brock  16

Brock, Samuel   9

Brotherley, Feredreck   54

(see also Brotherline, Fredrick)

Brotherline, Fredrick   53, 54

(see also Brotherley, Feredreek)

Burkit? 25

 

Chambers 25

Chateman 77

 

Davis, Samuel 1, 36-40, 45, 46

Dodge, Robart  13

Dorsey, John  37

 

Eddleman  21

Ellis, Enos  55

Elton, George  19, 20

Elton, Thomas  7, 8, 19, 20

Evin 39

 

Fenton, Paths  33

Finger, David   67, 68

Forhors?, Harey?  75

Fox   31

Fox, John   27, 29, 30, 34

 

Gahan?, Geo.  11

Gillen  75

Gohagan  11

Gohagan, James  17, 18, 69, 70

(also spelled Gohagen)

Gohagen, James - see Gohagan

Gorden  51

Gorden, James - see Gordon

Gordon, James 52, 61-64

(also spelled Gorden)

 

Hammer, Abel  79

Harding  75

Hawkens  65 

Helt?, John  34

Howel, Charles - see Howell

Howel, S.  75

Howel, Samuel - see Howell

Howell, Charles  56, 77, 80

(also spelled Howel)

Howell, Samuel   41, 42, 47, 48, 71, 72

(also spelled Howel)

Hugle, William 35

Isaac?  9

 

Jacobs?  16

Jefferson  65

Jenent? (schooner)  28

Jennings, Franceis  68, 67

(also spelled Jinnings)

Jinnings, Frances - see Jennings

John?  61, 63

Jones, David  15, [16]

Judicatory Society  4

 

Kaftman  3

Lauer, George P.  77

(see also Lower)

Laur, George - see Lower

Laware, Gorge - see Lower

Lowar, George - see Lower

Lower, George  57, 58, 73, 74, 77, 78, 82

(also spelled Laur, Laware, Lowar)

 

Marley  71

McNight, George  43, 44, 49, 50

Millar, John - see Miller

Miller, John  47, 48

(also spelled Millar)

Moffet, George  43, 50

Morning Cronnicle and the evening   81

 

Nace  75                                    

Nap, Thomas  75, 76                        

Nok or Noke  7                               

North  75                                  

North, Charles  9                          

 

Ogel, Howard  59, 60                         

 

Palmer  11, 21                             

Percey?  61                                

Pidgeon, Edmund   4, 31, 33            

(also spelled Pydegeon,  Pydgon)           

Plots, John  75                            

Polly, Deane  77                            

Pydegeon, Edmund - see Pidgeon

Pydgon, Edmund - see Pidgeon                

 

Rees  67

Reeves, James  69                          

Reynolds, Phebe  36

Richards, Jarad  13

Ritter, George  4, 75-77

Robinson  34

Robinson, Richard  13

Rogers  29

Ruleman  73

 

Samma?  23

Shash?  12

Sherriden  64

Silvers, John  3, 4

Simmerman & Pydgon  25

Simmerman, Jacob  28

Spencer, John  11

Steward, James  43

Stiner, Jacob  5, 6

Sureman  73

Sweden, Richard  11, 21, 25

(also spelled Sweaden)

Sweaden, Richard - see Sweden

 

Taylor?  34, 53

Thomas  72

Thomas, Heben  57, 58

 

Vance, James  71

Vantz   71

(see also Vance)

 

Wallas, John - see Wallis

Wallis, John    67, 68, 70

(also spelled Wallas, Wallos)

Wallos, John - see Wallis

Wiles  33, 34

Wiles, Conrod   25, 29, 61

(also spelled Wils)

Willcox   46a

William, James  50

Williams  72

Williamson, Robart   43

Wills, C.   73

(see also Wiles)

Wils, Conrod - see Wiles

Wolf?  25

 

Yeatman   64

Yong, Cpt.    65

 

Zane, Isaac  17


 

 

 



List of names found in miscellaneous accounts of Isaac Ashton, acc. 62x60.45-.81, Col. 263, Series I, Box 1, folder 5

 

Arnat

Ashton, Isaac

Aston, John

Beale, Pennel

Bilstaid(?) Alex.

Carlisle

Crawford(?) John

Crowell, Enoch

Cysor

Duffield, Abraham

Dunlap, Henry

Eckfelt, Adam

Epley, Henry

Erwin, Samuel

Flint(?) John

Garrigues, Edward

George, Thomas

Germain(?) John   .61

Hoffman, J.

Homaselle, Charles

Keyser, Peter, & Co.

Kinsel – see Kinsley

Kinsley, Philip

Knorr, Jacob

Lees, Sam.

Lewis, Isaac

Lewis, Sarah

Lohra(?) & Carlisle

Marshall, John

Morris, John

Newhouse, Philip

Preston, William

Sandiford, Rowland

Shetterley, David

Snyder, William

Vallette(?) Elia

Waters, Thomas

Wilson, Catherine

Wilson, George

Winter, Richard

Zane & Chapman

Zane, Isaac



List of names found in account book of Samuel Ashton, acc. 63x12, Col. 263, Series I, Box 1, folder 4

 

Ashton (Isaac? Samuel?)

Bale – see Beale

Beale, Pennel

Britton, John

Cimber, Jesse

Davis, Samuel

Eastwick, Charles

Fritz, Andrew

King, Tobias

Kinsely, Henry

Knox, Henry

Ross, Hugh

Sims, Henry

Sprozal, John

Taylor, Andrew