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:         Rex family                             

Title:               Daybooks and exercise books

Dates:             1790-1829

Call No.:         Col. 417

Acc. No.:        60x3; 65x526; 65x527; 65x530; 65x531

Quantity:        49 volumes (4 boxes)

Location:        9 C 4

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Brothers Samuel (1766-1835) and Abraham II (1778-1863) Rex resided in Heidelberg (later called Schaefferstown) and Mount Pleasant (Cocalico township, Lancaster County), Pennsylvania. during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  Samuel and Abraham II owned general stores.  They were sons of Anna Bastian and Abraham Rex I, a storekeeper in Chestnut Hill, now a part of Philadelphia.  Samuel moved to Schaefferstown in 1789 to run a store for Lewis Kreider, and in 1790, he opened his own store.  He married Anna Maria (Mary) Valentine.  They had no children.  In 1807, Samuel sold his store to his brother Abraham.  Samuel continued to reside in Schaefferstown and remained involved in the town's business, legal, and religious affairs.

 

Abraham Rex, II, married Elizabeth Schaeffer.  One of their sons was Franklin (1811-1833), who died shortly after graduation from medical school.  Another son was Samuel Schaeffer (1806-1878); he worked in his father's store before establishing his own in Brickerville.  Abraham Rex, II, ran a store in Mount Pleasant from 1802-1807, and then purchased brother Samuel's store in 1807.    In 1834, Abraham Rex II sold his store to his sons Samuel Schaeffer and Abraham (1813-1890).

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

This collection includes 44 daybooks, four cyphering books (mathematical exercise books), and one copy book (with writing exercises).  The daybooks record the sales transactions of general stores. Samuel Rex's daybooks (1790-1805; not a complete run) indicate that he sold iron to John Sweitzer who manufactured nails for Rex.  Most items sold were paid for in English pounds.  Goods mentioned include earthenware, dry-goods, liquors, glassware, tobacco, spices, hardware, tools, various types of groceries, and clothing.  Abraham Rex's daybooks are in two series, one for his store in Mount Pleasant, Lancaster County, dating 1802-1807, and another series for his store in Schaefferstown (the store purchased from his brother), dating 1807-1818.  Neither run is complete.  He sold the same sorts of goods as had his brother.

 

The cyphering books were kept by Samuel Schaeffer Rex, Franklin Rex, and an unknown person (perhaps one of their siblings).  The books include exercises in accounting and bookkeeping.  The back cover of Samuel S. Rex's cyphering book contains an architectural drawing of a house.  The cyphering books of Samuel S. Rex and the unknown person are covered with marbled papers; the first volume is also decorated with a textile label and a paper label with Samuel S. Rex’s name and the date May 1820.  Franklin Rex's exercise and copy books are covered with paste papers, and all bear a label stating that they were sold by Joseph G. Auner or J.G. & C.H. Auner of Market Street.  Two of the books are dated 1829.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The daybooks are divided between those for Samuel and those for Abraham and are then in chronological order.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English, with a few entries in German.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

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

           

 

PROVENANCE

 

Accession 60x3: purchased from Robert C. Salathe.

All other accessions: transferred from Winterthur Museum.

 

 

RELATED MATERIALS

 

For additional Rex family papers, see Leon Lewis Papers, Mic. 2655-2668. 

 

Wenger, Diane E.  A Country Storekeeper in Pennsylvania (University Park, Penn.: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008).  This book focuses on Samuel Rex.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

People:

            Sweitzer, John.

 

Topics:

            Arithmetic – Study and teaching.

Business records - Pennsylvania.

Clothing and dress.

Decorative paper.

Dry-goods.

            General stores - Pennsylvania.

Glassware.

            Groceries.

Hardware.

            Liquors.

Marbled papers - Specimens.

Mathematics – Study and teaching.

Nails and spikes.

Paste paper - Specimens.

Penmanship.

Pottery.

Retail trade.

Spices.

Tobacco.

Tools.

            Wallpaper - Specimens.

           

            Lancaster County (Pa.) - Businesses.

Lebanon County (Pa.) - Businesses.

 

Architectural drawings.

Daybooks.

Exercise books.

Copybooks.

Merchants.

                        Shopkeepers.

                        Students.

 

            Additional authors:

                        Rex, Abraham, 1778-1863.

                        Rex, Franklin, 1811-1833.

Rex, Samuel, 1766-1835.

Rex, Samuel Schaeffer, 1806-1878.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location:  9 C 4

 

Box 1: Samuel Rex daybooks and nail book

 

60x3.1             Samuel Rex, Blotter Daybook, December 22, 1790-November 28, 1791.

                                    Pages are headed Heidelberg.

                                    Covers: plain blue paper, with an extra cover laid into the folder.

 

60x3.2             Samuel Rex, Daybook no. 3, July 23, 1796-May 11, 1797.

                                    Names are crossed through, undoubtedly to indicate transfer to another account book, but most names are still legible.

                                    Covers: stiff brown paper

 

60x3.3             Samuel Rex, Daybook no. 8, April 18, 1799-August 14, 1799.

                                    Names are crossed through, undoubtedly to indicate transfer to another account book, but most names are still legible.

                                    Covers: stiff brown paper

 

60x3.4             Samuel Rex, Daybook no. 12, June 10-August 23, 1800

                                    Some names are crossed through.  The store was open on July 4.

                                    Covers: stiff pink paper

 

60x3.5             Samuel Rex, Daybook no. 14, November 21, 1800-January 24, 1801.

                                    Some names are crossed through.  The store was closed on Dec. 25.

                                    Covers: stiff pink paper

 

60x3.6             Samuel Rex, Daybook no. 19, March 18-June 28, 1802

                                    Some names are crossed through. 

                                    Covers: stiff brown paper; the names Henry Rex and John were written on the back cover, but then crossed through.

                                    Laid into volume: some statements about land owned by HenryWeiss[?], Sr.; a bill to Samuel Rex from Peter Shindel, for snuff and a keg, dated June 9, 1802; and some scrap paper.

 

60x3.7             Samuel Rex, Daybook no. 21, October 12, 1802-January 22, 1803

                                    Some names are crossed through.  The store was closed on Dec. 25.

                                    Covers: stiff marble paper, same design as that of acc. 65x526.1

 

60x3.8             Samuel Rex, Daybook no. 23, June 4-September 9, 1803

                                    Some names are crossed through.  The store was open on July 4.  Most accounts for Sept. 9 are written in German. 

                                    Covers: stiff marble paper

 

 

60x3.9             Samuel Rex, Daybook no. 33, September 30-December 4, 1805

                                    Some names are crossed through.  The store was open on July 4.  Some accounts for late October/early November are written in German.  “Heidelberg” is written at head of December accounts.

                                    Covers: stiff paste paper; label on cover: paper eight-pointed star.

 

60x3.10           Samuel Rex, Letter Book, Nail Book, April 9, 1800-April 25, 1803.

                                    Accounts of nails made by John Switzer for Samuel Rex.  Rex furnished nail iron, and Switzer made various kinds of nails and sprigs.

                                    Despite what was written on the cover, there are no letters in this volume.

                                    Front cover: stiff brown paper.  Back cover is missing.

 

 

Box 2: Abraham Rex daybooks, 1802-1809

 

65x526.1         Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 1, May 10-August 19, 1802.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.  The store was open on July 4. 

                                    Covers: stiff marble paper, same design as that of acc. 60x3.7.

 

65x526.2         Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 4, March 14-August 9, 1803

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.  No business was recorded on July 4. 

                                    Covers: stiff brown paper.

                                    Laid into volume: “sundry accounts due Abrm Rex”’ a note about enclosure of funds to be accredited to account of Joh Cumler; and accounts dated March 11, 1805, although the debts date back to 1802.

 

65x526.3         Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 9, October 16, 1804-February 9, 1805.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.  The store was open on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. 

                                    Covers: stiff blue paper.

 

65x526.4         Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 10, February 12-May 23, 1805.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Covers: stiff orange paper

 

65x526.5         Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 13, November 20, 1805-March 26, 1806.

                                    Some names are crossed through and marked paid, while others are marked to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Covers: stiff blue paper

 

65x526.6         Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 14, March 29-July 21, 1806.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.  The store was open on July 4. 

                                    Covers: green paste paper; paper label in shape of eight pointed star

 

65x526.7         Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 15, July 22-November 12, 1806.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Covers: purple paste paper; paper label in shape of eight pointed star; paper label gives location: Cocalico township, Lancaster County.

 

65x526.8         Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 16, November 14, 1806-April 28, 1807, with added note dated August 3, 1808.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Covers: wallpaper, with pink background and black and white design; paper label in shape of eight pointed star

 

65x526.9         Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 4, November 24, 1807-February 22, 1808.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.  The store was open on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. 

Accounts are headed Heidelberg. 

                                    Covers: decorative paper, with brown background and gold spots, , same as acc. 65x526.10; paper label roughly a rectangle

 

65x526.10       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 6, June 3-September 5, 1808.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

Accounts are headed Heidelberg. 

                                    Covers: decorative paper, with brown background and gold spots, same as acc. 65x526.9; paper label roughly a rectangle

 

65x526.11       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 7, September 6-December 17, 1808.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.   Last page: accounts for Jacob Miller, son of Jacob, dated Oct. 6, 1808-Oct. 31, 1809.   

                                    Accounts are headed Heidelberg. 

                                    Covers: stiff marble paper

 

65x526.12       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 8, December 19, 1808-March 28, 1809.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.   

                                    Accounts are headed Heidelberg, although Sheaffer’s Town is written on the front cover and inside the back cover

                                    Covers: stiff turquoise paper, with flower-shaped paper label

 

 

 

Box 3: Abraham Rex daybooks, 1809-1815

 

65x526.13       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 10, July 1-October 2, 1809.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.  An additional account for July 29 is recorded on the back page; the store was open on July 4.

                                    Sheaffer’s Town is written inside the back cover.

                                    Covers: turquoise paper glued to stiffer paper, with eight point star paper label.

 

65x526.14       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 11, October 3-December 25, 1809.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.  An additional account for July 29 is recorded on the back page; the store was open on July 4.

                                    Heidelberg is written at top of first page.

                                    Covers: turquoise paper glued to stiffer paper, with eight point star paper label.

 

65x526.15       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 13, March 28-July 6, 1810.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.  The store was open on July 4.

                                    The label on the front cover says the daybook commences march 28, but the first account in the book is for March 31; possibly some pages are missing.

                                    Some notes about borrowing hemp see are written inside the front cover.

                                    Covers: turquoise paper glued to stiffer paper, with eight point star paper label.

 

65x526.16       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 15, November 9, 1810-March 23, 1811.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.                             Heidelberg is written at top of first page.

                                    Covers: paste paper, with purple background and vine and leaf pattern.  Round paper label on front cover.

 

65x526.17       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 16, March 26-July 2, 1811.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.                             No. 15 is written on front cover, but No. 16 on the label on the front cover.

                                    Covers: marble paper, with a shaped paper label on the front cover.

 

65x526.18       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 18, October 23, 1811-February 11, 1812.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.                            

                                    Covers: decorative paper, with a polka dot pattern; rectangular paper label.

 

65x526.19       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 19, February 12-June 17, 1812.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.    

                                    Last page: account of Christian Strack [?], April 1812-Septmeber 1813.     

                                    Inside back cover: account of butter received of Daniel Brubacker, May-June 1812.

                                    Covers: marble paper, with a rectangular paper label on the front cover.

 

65x526.20       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 20, June 18-October 12, 1812.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book.    

                                    Heidalbarg [i.e. Heidelberg]  is written on top of first page.

                                    Covers: marble paper, with a rectangular paper label on the front cover.  No. 20 is also written on the front cover.

 

65x526.21       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 22, February 13-June 17, 1813.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Heidalbarg [i.e. Heidelberg]  is written on top of first page. 

                                    Inside back cover: account of cattle bought by Jacob Garret, June 1813, given weight of each animal.

                                    Covers: marble paper.  No. 22 written on front cover.

 

65x526.22       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 23, June 19-October 21, 1813.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Last page: accounts of Christian Strack, Nov. 1813-July 23, 1814.

                                    Covers: marble paper.  No. 23 written on front cover.

 

65x526.23       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 26, May 30-August 6, 1814.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Sheaffers Town written at top of first page.

                                    Last page: accounts of Christian Strack, July 23, 1814-Feb. 7, 1815.

                                    Covers: marble paper.  No. 26 written on front cover.

 

65x526.24       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 28, November 5, 1814-January 12, 1815.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Heidle Berg [Heidelberg] written at top of first page.

                                    Accounts found inside front cover, about nails, Nov. 1814-March 1817.

                                    Accounts found inside back cover, for beer, Dec. 1814- March 10, 1815.

                                    Covers: deep yellow paper

 

 

 

 

Box 4: Abraham Rex daybooks, 1815-1818, and other volumes

 

65x526.25       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 31, June 15-August 10, 1815.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Heidelberg is written at top of first page.

                                    Last page: weight of cattle slaughtered by Jacob Garret in 1815.

                                    Covers: marble paper; multi-pointed sun shape paper label on front cover

 

65x526.26       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 32, August 11-October 10, 1815.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Sheaffers Town is written at top of last page.

                                    Last page: account of Samuel Goshert, Aug. 26, 1815-oct. 10, 1816.

                                    Covers: marble paper; multi-pointed sun shape paper label on front cover

 

65x526.27       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 34, December 16, 1815-February 14, 1816.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Sheaffers Town is written at top of first page.

                                    Inside front cover: account of clover seed bough in 1816.

                                    Accounts found inside back cover, credit for beer given to Anthony Kapp, Nov. 1815-May 1816.

                                    Covers: marble paper; rectangular paper label on front cover

 

65x526.28       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 36, May 22-July 16, 1816.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Sheaffers Town is written at top of first page.

                                    Inside front cover: notes about bank notes received, June 1816.

                                    Inside back cover: notes about purchases of steers, Oct.

                                    Covers: marble paper; rectangular paper label on front cover, with booksellers label: sold by G. W. Mentz, No. 71, Race Street.

 

65x526.29       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 37, July 16-Sept. 16, 1816.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Sheaffers Town is written at top of first page.

                                    Inside back cover: notes about purchase of steer and hides.

                                    Covers: marble paper; rectangular paper label on front cover, with booksellers label: sold by G. W. Mentz, No. 71, Race Street.

 

65x526.30       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 38, September 19-November 11, 1816.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Inside front cover: note about a hide.

                                    Covers: marble paper; rectangular paper label on front cover, with booksellers label: sold by G. W. Mentz, No. 71, Race Street.

 

65x526.31       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 42, March 17-April 25, 1817

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Heidelberg is written at top of first page.

                                    Covers: plain, greyish paper, with decorative paper spine

 

65x526.32       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 46, October 23-December 17, 1817.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Sheafferstown is written at top of first page.

                                    Laid inside the back cover is a scrap of paper, perhaps used for blotting, which has Chinese characters printed on it.

                                    Covers: marble paper, with the marbling done on top of printed pages of a medical or anatomy book; rectangular paper label on front cover

 

65x526.33       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 47, December 18, 1817-February 12, 1818.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Sheafferstown is written at top of first page.

                                    Last page: account of George Miller, January 31-Dec. 18, 1818.

                                    Inside front cover: account of beer received of Anthony Kapp in 1817 and 1818.

                                    Inside back cover: amount of grain received of the Auburn Farm, January 1818, listing oats, wheat, and rye.

                                    Covers: marble paper, with the marbling done on top of printed pages of a medical or anatomy book; rectangular paper label on front cover

 

65x526.34       Abraham Rex, Daybook No. 48, February 13-May 19, 1818.

                                    Some names are crossed through, while others are marked, probably to indicate that they have been transferred to another account book. 

                                    Sheafferstown is written at top of first page.

                                    Laid inside the back cover is a scrap of paper, perhaps used for blotting, which has Chinese characters printed on it.

                                    Covers: blue paper

 

65x527            account of liquor sales, 1799.

                                    It is not known who kept these accounts or where, but the name Samuel Rex appears on the debit side for having written an assignment from Gersch.

                                    Covers: wallpaper, with leather spine.  The wallpaper has a red background; the section on the back includes the figures of a woman, child, and man.  Part of the paper is torn, and the man’s head is missing; someone drew a head on the supporting paper cover underneath the wallpaper.  The names Paul Jones and James Jones are written on the back cover.

 

65x530.1         cyphering book of Samuel S. Rex, May-July 1820.

                                    Includes single and double rules of three, tare and tret, and simple interest, with exercises.  The last page was used for writing exercises. 

Written inside front cover: his name and Sheafferstown, Lebanon County.

Inside back cover: pencil drawing of a building, perhaps a house, with some measurements.

Covers: marble paper, with rectangular label on front cover, which has Rex’s name, and some color decoration.  A textile label has also been added to the front cover.

 

65x530.2         cyphering book of unknown person

[this was previously attributed to Samuel S. Rex, but his name does not appear in the volume, and the handwriting does not match that in acc. 65x530.1; there were other Rex children, and this could have been kept by one of them]

                                    Includes compound addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; reduction; double rule of three; tare and tret; interest; with exercises. 

Covers: marble paper

 

65x531.1         cyphering book of Franklin S. Rex

                                    Includes single and double rules of three, with inverse proportions; and tare and tret.

Covers: paste paper, with green background; rectangular label on front cover, Sold by Joseph G. Auner, No. 333, Market-street.

 

65x531.2         cyphering book of Franklin S. Rex, Sept. 7, 1829.

                                    Includes simple and compound interest; barter; loss and gain; fellowship; exchange; and vulgar fractions.

Covers: paste paper, with design in purple and yellow; rectangular label on front cover, Sold by J.G. & C.H. Auner, [address cut off].

 

65x531.3         writing practice book of Franklin S. Rex, October 3, 1829.

                                    Includes words beginning with the letters A-T; last pages have been cut out.

Covers: paste paper, with design in purple and yellow; rectangular label on front cover, Sold by J.G. & C.H. Auner, [address cut off].