The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE  19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:          Bachman family.                                              

Title:               Papers

Dates:             1769-1864.

Call No.:         Col. 285          

Acc. No.:         [various]

Quantity:        1 box, 1 microfilm reel

Location:        15 L 4

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

The Bachmans represented in this collection were a family of five generations of cabinetmakers and undertakers from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; they continued in the business of undertaking into the 21st century. The founder of this family was John (Johannes) Bachman II, who was born in 1746 in Switzerland and who died in 1829.  After emigrating to the United States as a young man, he married Maria Rohrer in 1771 and together they had nine children.  John was primarily noted for his clock cases and custom furniture making.  His furniture business was located in Lampeter Township, Pennsylvania.

 

John’s eldest son, John III (1775-1849), continued the family business but later moved his shop to Willow Street in Pequea Township.  He married Esther Grider in 1797 and they had eight children.  He was a leading member of the Mennonite Church and, it is said, was an "industrious and thorough workingman, and a man highly respected throughout the neighborhood."  His brother, Jacob (b. 1782), was also in business with him at some point.

 

Jacob (1798-1867), the eldest son of John III, adopted his father's and grandfather's profession.  After his 1822 marriage to Barbara Kendig, he moved to East Lampeter Township and established his shop near Soudersburg, Pennsylvania.  Besides cabinetmaking, he also farmed and became a well-known local public figure.  Bachman advocated the advancement of education and was a member of the local board of education.

 

Of the ten children born to Jacob and Barbara Bachman, Christian (1827-1901) chose to continue the cabinetmaking trade.  He worked with his father until 1855 when he married Barbara Buckwalter and moved to Strasburg, Pennsylvania, where he opened his own shop.  In 1880, his two sons, Frank and Ellis, joined him and the business was renamed C. Bachman & Sons until the withdrawal of Frank in 1888.  Apparently, Christian expanded the business trade line "to embrace every style and kind" of furniture.  He too, was a prominent community figure, serving on the board of education for twenty-five years and as a notary public.

 

After the withdrawal of his brother, Frank, and the retirement of his father, Christian, Ellis Bachman (1856-1933) assumed control of the cabinetmaking business.  Having been reared and educated in Strasburg borough, he thoroughly learned the family trade from his father.  He married Lillian Arnold in 1883 and they had nine children.  Following his father's footsteps in public life, he succeeded him as a notary public and assumed the office of assessor as well.  He was also an active member of the Republican party.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

This collection contains two account books, two photocopies of privately owned estate inventories, and one roll of microfilm (Mic. 935) of two daybooks.  Of the documents on microfilm, the first, by Jacob Bachman (son of John III) is owned by Winterthur Museum and is described below as item 73x315.  The second, in German, was written by Johannes Bachman (John II) and was in private ownership at the time of filming.  For a description of the Johannes Bachman daybook, see the record for Mic. 935.

 

One volume (acc. 54x104) was used by both by John Bachman III from 1816-1835 and by his brother, Jacob Bachman, from 1850-1864.  Among the items which John Bachman recorded making are a cherry breakfast table, clock cases, writing desks, poplar cradles, walnut dressers, bureaus, high post bedsteads, etc.  The second half of this book was used as a daybook by his brother, Jacob Bachman, from 1850-1864.  Jacob made functional woodenware such as wash troughs, gates, salt boxes, locust posts, and hoe handles, as well as fine furniture such as French bedsteads, fall leaf tables, a set of bureaus, and clock cases, among other items.  He also sold such farm produce as wheat, corn, and hay, and pigs.  Jacob used the other account book (acc. 73x315) from 1822-1862.  It, too, was used to record making furniture and selling produce.  

 

The estate inventories are those of John Bachman II (1829) and John Bachman III (1849).  Both inventories include detailed lists of tools, as well as household items.

 

 

 

ORGANIZATION

           

The two account books and the two photocopies are in one box.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

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

 

 

PROVENANCE

 

Gifts and purchases from various sources.        

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Bachman family.

                        Bachman, Johannes, 1746-1829.

                        Bachman, Jacob, 1782-?

                        Bachman, John, 1775-1849.

                        Bachman, Jacob, 1798-1867.

                        Bachman, Christian, 1827-1901.

                        Bachman, Ellis, 1856-1933.

 

Topics:

            Business records - Pennsylvania - Lancaster County.

            Furniture, Pennsylvania Dutch.

            Furniture making - Pennsylvania - Lancaster County.

            Furniture industry and trade - Pennsylvania - Lancaster County.

            Inventories of decedents' estates - Pennsylvania - Lancaster County.

                        Furniture workers - Pennsylvania - Lancaster County.

                        Cabinetmakers - Pennsylvania - Lancaster County.

                        Daybooks.

                        Ledgers.

                        Inventories.

                        Furnituremakers.

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 15 L 4

 

 

Box 1:

 

54x104            Ledger book of John Bachman, 1816-1835, and

Daybook of Jacob Bachman, 1850-1864

 

The first of the account books, this one bears the spine title "Ledger B."  According to the title page inscription, it was first owned by John Bachman III from 1816-1835.  It contains an index of names in the front and uses facing pages to record debits and credits of each customer in traditional ledger fashion.  Occasionally, the occupation of the customer is listed.  Items that Bachman made include a cherry breakfast table, clock cases, writing desks, poplar cradles, walnut dressers, bureaus, high post bedsteads, etc.  The second half of this book was used as a daybook by his brother, Jacob Bachman, from 1850-1864.  Jacob apparently made functional pieces such as wash troughs, gates, salt boxes, locust posts, and hoe handles, as well as fine furniture such as French bedsteads, fall leaf tables, a set of bureaus, and clock cases, among others.  He also sold farm produce such as wheat, corn, hay, and pigs.

 

73x315            Account Book of Jacob Bachman, 1822-1862

 

The second account book is an ledger owned by Jacob Bachman (son of John III) from 1822-1862.  It too uses facing pages to record debits and credits of each customer in traditional ledger fashion.  While Jacob did some farming, he primarily made his living from the cabinetmaking business.  Most notably, he made high post bedsteads, walnut chests, bureaus, high cases of drawers, corner cupboards, dining tables, cradles, "doetroughs," and clock cases.

 

The volume did not include an index at the time it was kept; however, a typed name index to this volume is appended to this finding aid.

 

Also on microfilm, Mic. 935.

 

 

Ph 1173.1        Estate inventory of John Bachman, 1829

 

Taken in 1829 at the death of John Bachman II (Johannes) of Conestoga Township.  Besides household items, the inventory includes the appraised values of carpentry and cabinetmaking tools, his own furniture, and a turning lathe.

 

Ph 1173.2        Estate inventory of John Bachman, 1849

 

Taken in 1849 at the death of the above’s son, John Bachman III, also of Conestoga Township.  This inventory lists the appraised values of rough wood, screws, morticed posts, bench and grovering tools, moulding planes, saws, chisels, squares, vices, hammers, and other cabinetmaking tools among the household items.

 

Mic. 935          Account Book of Jacob Bachman, 1822-1862 (same as 73x315); and

                        Day book of Johannes Bachman (John II), 1769-1828 (in German).

 

Typed name index to Jacob Bachman’s account book is appended to this finding aid.

 

 

Index to acc. 73x315 in Col. 285 (also on Mic. 935), day book of Jacob Bachman, ca.1821-ca.1861

 

Amweg, Capt.  109a

Andrew, Daniel   4

Andrew, Jacob   52

Andrew, Martin   28

Andrew, Peter   53, 109

Armstrong, Hareot [Harriet?]  13

Asbenshade, Adam    15

(see also Esbenshade)

Auman, Jacob   66, 73

Awerter, George  8

 

Bachman, Benjamin   45

Bachman, Christian   10

Bachman, Ellis   (title page)

Bachman, Jacob   (title page,) 38a, 42a, 65a, 68a, 74, 108a

Bachman, John (father)  2, 21

Bachman, John (Jun.)  1

Bachman, Martin   28c

[Baily], Augustus   77

Baily, John   54

Baldwin, Anthony 26, 33, 38

(also spelled Bawlden, Antony)

Baldwin, Antony W.   45

Bally, Frances  54

Bally, John [Baily?]  54

Bawlden, Antony  - see Baldwin, Anthony

Barr, Abraham  2, 5, 6

Barr, B.  27a

Barr, Christian  38, 45, 70, 90

Biler, David   18, 24, 32, 50, 51, 56, 61

Biler, John  51

Biler, Joseph  18

Boate., Thomas  20

Bolly, John [Baily?]  77

Bolly, Samuel  81

Book, David   58

Brackbill, Benjamin  15, 22, 26, 35, 56, 62, 71, 87, 88

Brackbill, Christian   27, 33, 41, 60

Brackbill, John  12, 17, 19, 24, 95

Brackbill, Susana  36

Brenaman, Henry (Manor?)  61

Brennaman, Jacob   51, 69

Bressler, Isaac   83

Brower, John   3

Brubaker, Francis   28

Burg, Henry   23

Burrows, Francis   37

 

Canada, Andrew   18, 31

(also spelled Cannada; [Kennedy?] )

Cannada, Andrew - see Canada [Kennedy?]

Casky, James  49

Casky, Nathaniel  69

Cassel, Henry   53

Christian   57

Clack, Catherine  26

Clack, Daniel  52, 63

Clack, John  66, 79

Clark, John   3

 

Davis   45

Davis, John   2, 15a, 17, 21, 24, 26, 42, 52, 109

Davis, William  21

Defenbach, Christian  49

Dentlinger  80

Dentlinger, John  44

Dunekee  80

Dunekee, David  71

 

Eberly 2

Eberly, Henry  2, 5, 8

Echtanach, Daniel    88

Eckman, Henry  11

Ectanach, Jacob  94

Eli  48

Erb, Daniel  12

Esbenshade, Adam   76, 78, 82

(see also Asbenshade)

Esbenshade, Henry   89

 

Finney, Samuel  20

Fisher   2

Fisher, Benjamin  10, 85

Fisher, Christian 6, 9, 28, 43

Fisher, Christian (Jun.)  41

Fisher, Henry  93

Fox, Christian  56

Fox, John  13

Fralick, Jacob  43

Free, Phillip  28

Fritz, Daniel  59

 

Garner  80

Garrow, Miss  54

Given, Wilm.  32

Good, Michel  42

Graff, David  15, 15a, 30, 57

Graff, Jacob  15, 19

Greenfield, John   4

Greider   62

Greider, Daniel  15a, 18, 21

Greider, Henry   9, 11, 38, 109

Greider, Jacob   22, 29, 46

Greider, John   16

Griffy, William  5

Groff   80

Groff, David   48, 57

Grubb, George   18

 

Harnes  77

Hartman, Jacob  109

Hartman, Jacob (Jun.)  72

Haverstick, George   33, 36

Herr, Benjamin  73

Herr, Benjamin B.  65

Herr, Christian   36, 40, 44, 53, 63, 80, 92

Herr, Daniel  63, 65

Herr, Francis  18, 19, 35, 39

Herr, Henry  64, 78

Herr, Jacob F.  75

Herr, John  34, 81, 109

Herr, Martin  19, 28, 45

Herr, Samuel  11, 109

Herr, Widow  19, 22

Hertz   80

Hertz, Snitz  86

Hess, Henry  91

Hess, Jacob  37

Hoak, Jonathan  74

Hoover, Isaac  92

Houser, Elizebeth  17

Howry, Abraham  75

 

Jackson, David  60

 

Kentiz(?), Christian  109

Kiener, Henry  73

Kindig, A.  10

Kindig, Adam   27, 32, 45, 46, 49, 109

Kindig, Christian  4, 58

Kindig, Daniel  60

Kindig, Magdalena  41, 47

Kindig, Martin  17, 26, 44

Kindig, Samuel  12

Kindig, Widow  23, 24, 47

King, Abraham  29, 51, 54

King, Barbara  34

King, Benjamin  22, 28, 29, 40, 44, 46, 61, 85, 89

King, John  38, 58

King, John (Jun.)  19

King, John (Sen.)  13, 17, 29

King, Samuel  55a, 61, 64, 85, 94

Koch, Charles  75

Kreider, Abraham   74

(see also Krider)

Krider, Abraham    86, 92, 94

(see also Kreider)

Krider, Daniel   70

[Krider], Isaac  92

Krider, Jacob  67

Krider, John  53

 

Laman, Benjamin - see Leaman

Lapp, John S.  93

Leaman, Benjamin  30, 64, 73

Leaman, Jacob  64

Leaman, Tobias  70, 81

Lefever, Abraham  23, 32

Lefever, George  93

Lefever, Levi  69

Long, Jonas  34

Long, Moses  67

Longenecker, David  36

Lytel, James  15

 

Martin  32, 56

Matheot, Anna  30

Mathiot, Jacob  66

Mayer, Jacob  40

McCalester, Isaac - see McCallester

McCallester, Isaac   9, 16, 48, 72, 82

(also spelled McCalester)

McKlong, Hugh [McClung?]  10

McMachen, James   20, 38

(also spelled McMackin)

McMackin, James - see MeMachen

Melinger, John  67

Melinger, John (Sen.)  82

Mellinger, Christian  60

Miller  66

Miller, David  86, 91

Miller, Joh.   74

Miller, Joseph  52

Miller, N.  91

Miller, Samuel  75

Miller, Widow  91

Morisen, Mathew  5

Moyer, Andrew  94

Musser, Benjamin  10

Musser, Widow  24

Myers, Daniel  50

Myley, Amos  84

Myley, Christian  24

Myley, Jacob  36

Myley, John  21, 27

 

Parker, William   33, 39

Peters, William   109a

 

Quigley, George   43

 

Raub, Jacob  4

Risser, Henry  87

Rohrer, Jacob  4, 43

Rohrer, Ruben   80

 

Sample, Doc.  83

Seacrest, Tobias - see Seacrist

Seacrist, Tobias   42, 43

(also spelled Seacrest)

Shaker(?)  92

Shaup, Barbara   29

Shirtt(?), Mathias  38a

Shultz, A.  87

Smith, Jacob  3, 15

Smoker, Jacob  15a, 29

Spencer (of Thompson & Spencer)  108a

Spese, Henry  11

Spickler, George  68

Spring, Samuel  42a, 44, 47

Steaman, Henry  90

Stoufer, John  66, 69

Steufer, Sauges(?)  95

 

Templeton  80

Templeton, James  109

Thompson & Spencer  108a

Thomson, Isaac  33

(see also Tomson)

Thorn  39

Tomson   1

Tomson, Elizebeth  13

Tomson, Isaac   7, 14

(see also Thomson)

 

Umbach, John  109a

 

Walter, Nicholas   4, 8, 11, 25, 46, 68

Weaver, Henry  58

Weaver, John  76

Whipple, Gen.  109a

Wigert, Isaac  49

Wigert, Philip  7, 13

Williams, George  84

Williams, John  39, 42

Williams, Lancid  16

Wilson, Samuel  55

Witmer, A. K. & A. L.  74a

Witmer, Daniel  39

 

Yost, Christian  50

Young, Peter  5

 

Zercher, Frederick   65