The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Gunkle, Michael.

Title: Bills

Dates: 1793-1826.

Call No.: Col. 416

Acc. No.: 55x714.1-.31

Quantity: 31 items

Location: 34 J 2

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Nothing is known for certain about the Gunkle family which generated this small collection. However, evidence suggests that these are the papers of that Michael Gunkle who moved from Philadelphia (where he had been a mill burr-maker) to East Whiteland township in Chester County, Penn. Here he purchased a large property and put up many buildings, including two grist-mills and a saw-mill. He married Catharine Miller, born at Millbaugh, Lebanon County, Penn., where her father owned a mill. Michael and Catherine Gunkle had four sons: John, Michael, William, and Daniel. The Gunkle family was of German extraction, and Michael had two brothers who settled in Ohio.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection of bills addressed to Michael and William Gunkle document personal expenses for such items as clothing, food, liquor, mill stones, masonry work, periodical subscriptions, medical and veterinary services, and children's schooling from 1793-1826. While several bills are from Philadelphia businesses, the Gunkles do not appear in the city directory.

ORGANIZATION

The bills are roughly in chronological order.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

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

PROVENANCE

Transferred from Winterthur Museum.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Clothing and dress.

Education - Finance - 18th century.

Finance, Personal.

Groceries - Prices.

Invoices.

Liquors - Prices.

Mills and mill-work - Pennsylvania.

Periodicals - Pennsylvania. - Philadelphia.

Stone industry and trade - Pennsylvania.

Stonemasonry.

Veterinary services.

Additional author:

Gunkle, William.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 34 J 2

55x714.1 receipted bill, Messrs Gunkel & Horn paid Henry Clause for coffee, lamp oil, rum; 1793-1794;

name written on back: Henry Cline [although this is not a bill from Cline]

55x714.2 bill, Michael Gunkle bought of Caleb Lownes[?], Philadelphia, Dec. 31, 1795, hoop iron;

Name written on back: Caleb Lowens[?]

55x714.3 receipted bill, Michael Gunkle gave notes to Philip Case, Philadelphia, Feb. 22, 1786[?], for bolting cloth; signed by John G. Cox

55x714.4 receipted bill, on printed form, Michael Gunkel paid James Finley, “for tuition of his boy John Lawton,” with charges for quills, ink, and firewood, Philadelphia, March 1, 1796

55x714.5 receipted bill, on printed form, Michael Gunkel paid James Finley, “for tuition of his son John,” with charges for quills and ink, Philadelphia, March 1, 1796

55x714.6 receipted bill, Mr. Kunkle [sic] paid Henry Kline, tailor, for mending and making trousers, coats, and jackets, for Mr. Kunkle, Michael, John, and servant, Philadelphia, March 18, 1796;

Name written on back: Henry Cline

55x714.7 bill, Michael Gunkle bought at WT Auction, March 19, 1796, including hammers, chisels, paint mill, boiler, and various kinds of stones (bed, eye, foot, running, burr);

Name written on back: Patrick Keley

55x714.8 receipt, on printed form, Michael Gunkle paid for subscription to Philadelphia Gazette and Universal Daily Advertiser, 1795-1796, signed Wm. Cooper for Andrw. Brown

55x714.9 receipted bill, on printed form, Michael Gunkel paid James Finley, “for tuition of his son John,” with charges for quills and ink, Philadelphia, June 1, 1796

55x714.10 receipted bill, Michael Gunkle paid Jas. Gallaher for medical services provided in 1796 for a young woman, a child, Mrs. Gunkle, and little son, June 20, 1797;

Name written on back: James Gauchloyer

55x714.11 receipted bill, Mr. Cunkle [sic] paid Henry Cline, tailor, for mending and making trousers, coats, and jackets, for Michael and John, Philadelphia, Sept. 15, 1796

55x714.12 receipt, on printed form, Michael Gunkle paid for subscription to Philadelphia Gazette and Universal Daily Advertiser, Sept. 28, 1796, signed Wm. Cooper for Andrw. Brown

55x714.13 receipted bill, Mr. Gunkle paid James Finley $2 for firewood money, at the rate of $1 per scholar, Oct. 13, 1796

55x714.14 bill, Michael Gunckle bought plaster of Paris from Joseph Anthony, Oct. 19, 1796, with memo that Gunkle gave his note to cover the bill

Memo on back: plaster of Paris delivered to Downing Slaymaker

55x714.15 receipted bill, Michael Kunkle [sic] paid Thomas Leiper for curb stone, Philadelphia, Oct. 30, 1796, signed by William Patterson

Name written on back: Thos. Lithart[?]

55x714.16 receipted bill, on printed form, Michael Gunkel paid James Finley, “for tuition of his two sons John & Michael,” with charges for quills, ink, and firewood, Philadelphia, March 1, 1797

55x714.17 “Mem. of hoops sent Michael Gunkle,” signed for Abram. Sharples by J. Smith, mentions broad and narrow mill stone hoops, also mentions James Taylor, March 8, 1797;

[see also .19-.21]

55x714.18 receipted bill, on printed form, Michael Gunkel paid James Finley, “for tuition of his two sons John & Michael,” with charges for quills and ink, Philadelphia, Dec. 1, 1796

55x714.19 bill, Michael Gunkle bought of Abram Sharples, broad and narrow mill stone hoops; credit given for plaster of Paris, balance to be sent by John Smith, June 6, 1797;

[see also .17, .20-21]

55x714.20 memo about sending the mill stone hoops to James Taylor, signed by J. Smith for Abram Sharples, Penn.[?] Slitting[?] Mill, March 7, 1797

55x714.21 memo to John Gunkle from Daniel La Tourette & Co., Amwell, Jan. 3, 1798; as river is not likely to thaw, have sent wagon for the mill stone; with added memo signed by John Campbell that the mill stone had been received;

Name written on back: Dal. le Dautt

55x714.22 receipted bill, Mr. Gunkle paid Jas. Shepherd for medicines and attendance, including treating a horse for an abscess, Aug. 18, 1797;

Name written on back: James Sheput

55x714.23 receipted bill, Mr. Cunkle [sic] paid Henry Cline, tailor, for mending and making trousers, coats, and jackets, for servant, Michael, and John, Philadelphia, June 24, 1797; signed by Heinrich[?] Klein

55x714.24 receipt, on printed form, Michael Gunkle paid for subscription to Philadelphia Gazette and Universal Daily Advertiser, March 26, 1798, signed Wm. Cooper for Andrw. Brown

55x714.25 receipted bill, Michael Gunkle paid Travel[?] L. Matlack, for sugar, coffee, molasses, soap, July 9, 1800

55x714.26 bill to Wm. M. Gunkle from unknown person, for harvesting and other unspecified work, July 1825-April 1826

55x714.27 bill of purchases of beef made by Wm. Gunkell [sic], 1823

55x714.28 receipt, on printed form, Wm. M. Gunkle of East Whiteland, Pa., paid for subscription to National Gazette, for Jan. 23, 1824-1825, signed Wm. Fry;

Name written on front and back: J. R. Vodges, 6^th & George

55x714.29 Bill to John Hisser from William Lang for making coat and pantaloons, Nov. 13, 1824

55x714.30 bill to the executor of the estate of Wm. Gunkle, decd., from Abm. Pratt, for textiles, sugar, coffee, spices, cheese, rice, brandy, wine, pearl ash, white silk gloves, May 8, 1825

55x714.31 memo, Wm. M. Gunkle promises to pay Isaac Newton up to $24 for a clock, Oct. 25, 1825