The
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: Dorsey Family
Title: Papers
Dates: 1728-1845
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 61x67 and others (see
detailed description)
Quantity: about 368 items (1 box and 1
folder)
Location: 9 B 4
BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
The Dorsey family of merchants, land owners, and sugar
refiners inhabited various places throughout Harford County, Maryland, and
eastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, from the early 18th through the
mid 19th centuries. Greenberry Dorsey was a merchant in
Philadelphia. Henry Dorsey was the attorney for Edward Bartholomew;
it is not clear if there were family ties between the men.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
This collection contains bills, receipts, indentures,
deeds, legal documents, surveys, and letters regarding various members of the
Dorsey family from 1728-1845. Most of the bills and receipts document
personal expenses for food, clothing, lumber, gunpowder, saddlery, and farm
implement repair. Greenberry Dorsey purchased notably large quantities of
cooking utensils, saddlery, and textiles. The indentures are primarily for
land, although the Dorseys apparently also owned slaves. Many of the
legal documents, deeds, surveys, and letters have to do with numerous tracts of
land and disputes over estates and mortgages.
ORGANIZATION
The items from accession number 61x67 are divided
according to family member, and then by accession number. Items with
other accession numbers are also divided by family member and are then arranged
in accession number order.
An index to the accession 61x67 is at the end of this
finding aid.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Accession 61x67 was purchased from
ACCESS POINTS
Topics:
Textile fabrics - Prices.
Kitchen utensils - Prices.
Saddlery - Prices.
Carriages and carts.
Men’s clothing.
Lumber – Prices
– 18th century.
Shoes – Prices.
Boots – Prices.
Tinware –
Prices.
Furniture –
Invoices
Receipts (Acknowledgments).
Indentures.
Bonds.
Letters.
Legal instruments.
Legal documents.
Deeds.
Surveys.
Additional authors:
Dorsey, John.
Dorsey,
Greenberry.
Dorsey,
Henry R.
Dorsey,
Edward B.
Dorsey,
Dorsey,
Leonard.
Dorsey,
Jonathan.
Bartholemew,
Edward.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 9/B/4
Note: accession numbers begin with 6lx67, unless otherwise noted. (The old Trex numbers were #6264-6266.) An index to accession 61x67 (folders 1-21) is
appended to this finding aid.
Folder 1: John Dorsey
.1-7 Bills
and receipts, mostly for taxes, John Dorsey [
Folder 2: John Dorsey
.8-.29 Bills
and receipts, the estate of John Dorsey,
(*.13 oversized)
Folder 3: John Dorsey
.30-.38 Bills
and receipts, the estate of John Dorsey,
.39 Indenture,
John Dorsey,
.40-43 Memorandum of several tracts
of land, John Dorsey, n.p., n.d.
Folders 4-9: Greenberry Dorsey
.44-172 Receipts
and bills, Greenberry Dorsey,
(*.165 oversized)
Folder 10: Greenberry Dorsey
.173-176 Bonds,
Greenberry Dorsey, Mercer and
.177-179 Deeds
and leases, Greenberry Dorsey with Isaac Telfair, James Bond and Thomas
Cromwell,
(*.176 & .179 oversized)
Folder 11: Greenberry Dorsey
.180-190 Letters
to Greenberry Dorsey, Charleston Bridge; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Baltimore,
Cecil County, Baltimore County, Octoraro, Maryland; and Barre Forge and
Danville, Pennsylvania, 1780-1806 and n.d.
Folder 12: Greenberry Dorsey
.191-212 Letters,
estate of Greenberry Dorsey, Barre Forge, Norristown,
Folder 13: Edward B. Dorsey and Henry B. Dorsey
.213-219 Letters
to Edward B. Dorsey and Henry B. Dorsey, Barre Forge, Campbell County, Indiana
Township, Athens, Pennsylvania, 1804-1839.
.220-221 Memorandums
and papers relating to legal suits, Edward Dorsey, Covington, Pennsylvania, and
n.p., 1826 and n.d.
.222 Memorandum,
Edward B. Dorsey, n.p., 1800.
.223 Order,
.224 Account,
estate of H. P. Dorsey by Elizabeth Dorsey, n.p., 1823-1829.
.225 Legal
suit, Henry B. Dorsey, n.p., 1825.
Folder 14: various Dorseys
.226 Account,
Leonard Dorsey with Greenberry Dorsey, n.p., 1785.
.227 Memorandum
of Leonard Dorsey re: estate of John Dorsey, n.p., n.d.
.228 Letter, Jonathan H. Dorsey
to Samuel M. Green,
.229-230 Receipt
and letter of Thomas Hughes,
.231-232 Accounts, Dorsey & Hughes,
n.p., 1778-1780.
.233 Letter to Messrs. Hague & Correy [Currey?] re dispute with
Dorsey & Hughes, n.p., 1781.
.234 Suit, Dorsey and Hughes
vs. Hague and Curry?,
Folder 15: Edward
Bartholomew
.235-240 Receipts,
Edward Bartholomew from various individuals,
.241 Letter, Edward Bartholomew
to Robert Morris [a copy],
.242-244 Deeds,
Edward Bartholomew with John Patton,
Folder 16: Edward
Bartholomew
.245-.258 Surveys
made for Edward Bartholomew,
Folder 17: Edward
Bartholomew
259-.275 Leases,
estate of Edward Bartholomew,
Folder 18: Edward
Bartholomew
.276-.296 Bonds and
agreements, estate of Edward Bartholomew with various individuals,
.297-.300 Powers
of Attorney, estate of Edward Bartholomew,
(*.291 oversized)
Folder 19: Edward
Bartholomew
.301-.305 Deeds,
estate of Edward Bartholomew with various individuals, 1818-1823,
.306-.309 Miscellaneous
papers pertaining to the estate of Edward Bartholomew,
(*.301 oversized)
Folder 20: various people
.310-.325 Memorandums,
receipts, letters of various individuals, Covington, Tioga County;
Shippensburg, Philadelphia, Barre Forge, Meadville, and Pittsburgh, Allegheny
County, Pennsylvania; Athens [Pennsylvania]; Dicks River; Isle of Caproa [Virginia];
Cecil County, Maryland; and Lincoln County, Virginia, 1725-1845.
(*.318 oversized)
Folder 21: various people
.326-349 Miscellaneous papers of various
individuals, n.p., n.d.
Folder 22: Greenberry Dorsey
55.527 Receipted
bill to Greenberry Dorsey, from Francis Trumble,
55.528 Bill
to Greenberry Dorsey from George Claypoole,
55.529 Receipted
bill to Greenberry Dorsey from John Morrell,
55.761.1 Bill
to Greenberry Dorsey from Thomas Barton, Philadelphia, October 16, 1790, for
textile fabrics, handkerchiefs, bandannas, ribbon, garters, thread, hose, buttons,
binding, lace, spectacles, knives, spoons, and forks, needles, razors, pocket
knives, scissors, buckles, combs, thimbles, paper, rugs, blankets, and a few
other assorted items
55.761.10 Receipted bill to Greenberry Dorsey
from Martin Rizer,
55.761.11 Receipted
bill to Greenberry Dorsey from Martin Rizer,
68x183.17 Bill
to John Dorsey for work done for Greenberry Dorsey, from John Bissell, December
11, 1782, for a grate, receipted by Joseph Dubree
68x183.18 Bill
to John Dorsey, Jr., for Greenberry Dorsey from Jacob G. Bergen, January 5,
1783, for saddle bags and a gun in a box
68x183.19 Bill
to Greenberry Dorsey from Isaac Pearson, 1780-1783, for hats
76x455 Bill
to Greenberry Dorsey from George Schaaf, February 12, 1777, for alterations to
clothing and making a saddle blanket
76x456 Bill
to Greenberry Dorsey from Adam Zantzinger,
76x457 Bill
to Greenberry Dorsey from Cooper & Harrison,
96x25.1 Receipted
bill to Greenberry Dorsey from Godfrey Gebler,
96x25.11 Bill
to Greenberry Dorsey, bought at vendue,
Folder 23: Greenberry Dorsey:
receipts and bills, 1779-1781
05x40.1-.50 A
collection of receipts and bills sent to Greenberry Dorsey. The majority are for sugar, rum, coffee, or
tea; the sugar was bought in quantities too large for personal use. Other items purchased were shoes, lumber,
spikes, nails, and other hardware, hardware, vinegar, a set of measures
(gallon, quart, pint), cinnamon, and bengal and drilling (both textile
fabrics). As well there are charges for
storing salt, boarding a horse, and unspecified labor. Prices are expressed in dollars and in pounds
sterling.
The
merchants with whom Dorsey did business were John Bissell, James Carson,
William Carson, James Cellars, Chaloner & White, C. Clay, Leonard Dorsey, John
Dowers, Robert Evans, Forsyth & Snyder, William Forbes, Alexander Foster, Thomas
Hemphill, Josiah Hewes, Andrew & Hugh Hodges, Levi Hollingsworth, Richard
Hopkins, John Louder (or Souder), James Lownes, McClenacham(?) & Moore,
Joseph McCulloch, John Morrison, Edward Oxly, Pancoast & Shipley, Edward
Parnell, Rakestraw & Saunders, Wm. Shiaff, William Sitgreaves, Robert
Smith, James Starr, John Steinmetz, Wm. Turnbull & Co., Andrew Tybout, James
Wharton, and Peter Whiteside.
Folder 24: unspecified
Dorseys
55x761.12 Bill
to Mr. Dorsey from Quarrier & Hunter, 1785-1786, for a new fall top chaise
with a collar, and for painting, gilding, and doing other work on the chaise
71x191-193 Bills
to Mr. Dorsey from William H. Elsegood, Washington Boot and Shoe Manufactory,
76x454 Bill
to Hopkinson & Dorsey from Carlile & Simmons, 1774-1775, for cedar and
poplar planks and boards, also pine boards and oak scantling
Folder 25: oversize items
(folder on shelf)
61x67.13 account of
John Dorsey, deceased, with Samuel Groome Osborn, 1781-1788, for fabric,
thread, sugar, wine, nails, hammer, timothy seed, etc.
61x67.39 Indenture,
John Dorsey,
61x67.165 Receipted
bill, Greenberry Dorsey bought of Capper & Ricardo,
61x67.176 letter from a
number of creditors of Greenberry Dorsey, giving him extra time to pay his
debts, March 19, 1800. If anyone should
give Dorsey trouble over the debt owed to that person, Dorsey was to be freed
from repaying that person.
61x67.179 Deed, Thomas
and Ann Cromwell to Greenberry Dorsey for a lot of ground in
61x67.291 survey of
land in
61x67.301 deed, William
Patton, attorney in fact for Levi Pawling, Jonathan Smith, and Jonathan
Henderson, executors of Edward Bartholomew, to Hiram Thomas, tanner, of Tioga
County, Pennsylvania, for two lots in the town of Covington, September 4, 1818
61x67.318 deed,
Nathaniel Elliot to Daniel Harkness, Jr., for a tract of land in the town of
Index to accession 61x67 (folders
1-21)
Albertson,
Rickliff .264-269, .309
Anderson,
Alexander A. .261, .270-272, .274-278,
.285, .289, .290, .292, .293
Attmore
(of Kaighn & Attmore) .87, .88, .99
Attmore,
Caleb .153
Baish,
Martin .96, .97
Baker,
Barbara .335
Baltimore,
Lady Margaret, Manor .317
Barbee,
Joshua .200, .206
Barber,
Archibald .262, .275, .310
Barber,
Chauncey .311, .312
Barber,
Saml. .212, .270-.274,.310-312
Barbour,
Samuel .291
Barr,
John .315
Barr,
Robt. .170
Bartholomew
.316
Bartholomew,
E. .345
Bartholomew,
Edward .138, .145, .149, .150, .167, .212, .216, .235-.309
Bartow,
Thomas .151, .164
Bayard,
Andw. .313
Beall,
Benjamin .168, .201, .214, .325, .335
Belt,
Jere. .29
Belt,
John .44
Bickham,
Go. .176
Biegler,
John .187, .214
Birckhead,
Fras. .76
Bishop .348
Bishop,
Robt. .314
Bispham,
Samuel .94
Black,
Jno. .307
Black,
Martin .307
Black,
Samuel .308
Boggs,
Jas. .180
Bond,
James .178
Bosely .348
Bosley,
Elijah .40
Bowley,
Daniel .184
Brown,
William .60
Browning,
Perygreen .129
Buchker,
John .315
Bugler,
John .335
Burnside,
Thos. .270-272, .274-278, .285, .289,
.290, .292, .293
Calander,
Robt .308
Caldwell,
David .345
Capper
& Ricardo .165, .241
Carlile
& Simmons .45
Carlile
and Volans .47
Carman,
James .328
Carson,
James .334
Carson,
William .171
Chancellor,
Wm. .154
Christopher,
J. .307
Christopher,
Jacob .308
City
Auction .235
Clay,
Curtis .89
Clemmer,
John .307
Copley,
John .149, .185, .316
Correy
(of Hague & Correy) .233, .234
Cox,
Mary .35
Coyle,
John .158
Craddock,
Robert and Joshua Barbee .200
Craig,
Seth . 131, .135, .161, .162, .176
Crane,
Joseph .67
Crawford,
Thos. .218
Crockett,
John .317
Cromwell,
John H. .164, .183, .184, .186
Cromwell,
Thomas .179, .191, .194, .195, .197, 199, .201, .216,
Cunningham,
James .246
Curren,
Nathl. .128
Darrah,
John .329
Daves,
Vaughan .42
Day,
John .33
DeHaven,
Peter, & Co. .82, .103, .104
Dell,
Phillip .308
Dennison,
Michael .84, .92, .93
Donaldson,
Robt. .216
Donnaldson,
John .308
Dooley,
James .30, .105
Dorsey
.315, .316, .334, .340, .348, .349
Dorsey
& Company .345
Dorsey
& Higgins .221
Dorsey
& Hughes .231, .233, .234
Dorsey
& Willson .232
Dorsey,
Benedt. [.48,] .80, .181
Dorsey,
Cumfort Rebecca .40
Dorsey,
E. B. .212
Dorsey,
Edward B. .190, .195, [.196,] .200, .206-.210, .213, [.214-215,] .216-222
Dorsey,
Edwd. P. .300, .305
Dorsey,
Eliza. .192-194, [.196], .198-205 .207, .208, .210, .211, .215, .224, .306
Dorsey,
F. & P.? .212
Dorsey,
G. .325
Dorsey,
Greenberry .8, .9, .24, .25, .31 .32, .36, .37, .44-212, .215, .226, .227, .232
Dorsey,
H. P. .217, .224,.259-261, .270-272,
.274, .275, .290, .292, .319, .335, .337, .339
Dorsey,
Harry .309
Dorsey,
Henry B. .223, .225
Dorsey,
Henry P. .221, .260-262, .270, .275-278,
.285, .289, .290, .293, .294
Dorsey,
John .1-43, .108, .125, .226, .227,
Dorsey,
John (junr,) .57
Dorsey,
John H. .44
Dorsey,
John Hammon .40
Dorsey,
Jonath. H. .228
Dorsey,
Leonard .12, .37, .43, .48, .95, .55, .226, .227
Dorsey,
W. .214
Dulany,
D. .40
Dulany,
Daniel .41
Duncan,
John .141
Dunn
(of Wilkinson, Dunn & Clark) .140, .144
Elliot,
Levi .309
Elliot,
Nathaniel .318
Everhart,
John .119
Fickes,
Isaac .211
Fisher,
James C. & Sam. W. .176
Fitzgerald,
Mary .142, .143, .148
Fleming,
James .307
Foulke,
Amos .150
Fox,
Joseph .66
Fuller,
Elijah .302
Gallandet,
Peter W. .155
Gebler,
Godfrey .83, .124
Germon,
John .54, .81, .319
Gerould,
Ephraim B. .261
Gilbert,
George .127
Gloninger,
John, & Co. .203
Gomer
& Hanse .85
Gough,
H. D. .112
Grand-Prie,
Charles de (Colonel) .343
Gray,
John .220, .277-279, .305
Green,
S. M. .218
Green,
S. Miles .219, .300,.320, .333
Green,
Samuel M. .228
Green,
Saml. Miles .305
Greenuss,
Christr. .172, .175,
Griffiths,
Robert Eaglesfield .242
Guier,
John .149, .185
Hague
& Correy .233, .234
Hallman.,
John .146, .164
Hammon,
John .40
(see also
Hammond.,
John .41
(see also Hammon)
Hanna(h),
Hugh .138
Hanse
(of Gomer & Hanse) .85
Harbison,
Jas. .308
Harkness,
Daniel .318, .321
Hart,
Jacob .28
Henanson(?),
Eleanor .306
Henanson(?),
Jonn. & Eleanor .306
Henderson,
J. .189
Hews,
Nathan .58
Heytel,
George .118
Hines,
Samuel .110
Hollingsworth,
Levi .231
Hughes
(of Dorsey & Hughes) .231, .233, .234
Hughes,
Thomas .229, [.230]
Hunt,
John .322
Isaac,
Richard .78, .79
Jacobson,
John .58, .59
Johnson.,
G. .74
Johnston,
Francis .240, .309
Kaighn
& Attmore .87-88, .99
Kammerer,
Henry .152, .330
Keene,
Jesse L. .309
Kelly,
Thos. .308
Kennedy,
A., & Co. .138
Kingsbury,
Absalom .281-284, .309
Kirkpatrick,
Thos. .230
Kuhn,
Peter .56
Kyle,
Samuel .323
Lady's
Manor .346, .348
(see also
Landers,
Cuthbert .100
Lawson,
A. .346
Leshir,
George .130
Liddon,
Abm. & Co. .98
Lock,
Philip .323
Lownsbery,
Letson .285
Lowrey,
J. G. .213
Luack,
David .133
Lyon,
John .221
McBride,
Cornelius .202
McCahan,
John .215
McClay,
Wm. P. .270-272
McClellan,
George .308
M’Corkle,
Edward .219
Marvin,
John .280, .309, .321
Marvin,
Tilly .321
Maxwell,
James .324
Maxwell,
S. .229
Merriman,
John .184
Miller,
Jacob .321
Miller,
Joseph J. .136, .156
Montgomery,
John & William .326
Montgomery,
William .326
Moore
& Simpson .223
Moore,
William .191, .193, .194, .197-.203, .205, .207-210, .215, .338
Morgan,
George (
Morris,
Robt. .52
Morris,
Robert (Jr.) .241
Morse,
Moses .319
Neff,
Jacob .307, .308
Newell,
Joshua .286-288, .321
Nichols,
William (Major) .326
Nigby,
Jno. .308
Norris,
John .291
Nottingham
Company .41
O'Connor,
John .61
Oldden,
Jas. .236
Oldden, John & Jas. .236
Orion
.348
Osborn,
S. G. .1, [.3,] .4-7, .10, .11, .13-17, .19, .20, .26, .27
Osborn,
S. Groome .116
Osborn,
Saml. & William .101
Osborn,
Samuel G. .18, .43
Osborn,
William .101
Palmer,
John .169, .176
Parks,
John .70
Patton,
Edward .208
Patton,
John .122,.240, .242-245, .247-257, 259, .304, .309
Patton,
Saml. .212,.261, .270-72, .274-278, .289, .290, .292, .293
Patton,
Willm. .204, .207, .208, .264-269,
.280-284, .291, .295-299, .301, .302, 327, .336
Pawlen,
Henry - see Pawling
Pawling,
Henry .139, .328-331
(also spelled Pawlen)
Pawling,
Levy .192, .193
Pawling,
Wm .61, .145, .239
Pearson,
Isaac .331
Pike,
Mark H. .261
Polk,
Jehosaphat .75, .90, .109
Porter,
John .221
Presbury,
Joseph .107
Putnam,
E. .309
Putnam,
E1ijah .321
Putnam,
Genl. .327
Putnam,
Thomas .289, .290, .309, .321, .327
Rasor,
John .114
Redman,
John .121, .332
Reed,
Jos. .176
Reese,
Jacob .176
Rheasland,
John .345
Ricardo
(of Capper & Ricardo) .165, .241
Ricketts,
Edward .34
Ring,
Valentine .308
Ritchie,
David .333
Roberts,
Jno. .76
Roberts,
John .173
Rizer,
Martin .134, .137
Ross,
John .160
Rowe
& Sowesby .68
Rowe,
Stephen .68, .71-73, .340
Royle,
James .335
Runsey,
Benjamin .106
Rush,
William .77
Schaaf,
George .62
Scull,
Benj. .176
Shakespear
& Cumpston .132
Shene,
Laurance .51 [Shane?]
Shene,
Michael .51 [Shane?]
Shirtliff,
William .232
Simmons
(of Carlile & Simmons) .45, .46
Simms
Choyce (tract of land) .40, .41
Smith,
Jona. .188, .193, .198, .205, .207
Smock,
Robert .237
Snowden,
Richard .39
Snyder,
Michael .308
Sowersby?,
Robt. .126
Spilman,
Nathaniel .335
Starr,
James .86, .91
States,
Wm .223, .225
Stephens,
Jno. .63-65
Steuart,
Wm. .317
Stewart,
David .191, .193, .194, .196-203, .205,
[.207,] .208-210, .215
Stewart,
Robt .334
Stiles,
Jos. .49, .50, .111, .115
Stimson
.40
Strade,
Jno. .209
Strawbridge,
John .160
Swanson
(tract of land) .42
Swanson
& Simms Choice (tract of land) .41
Taylor,
Jno. M. .326
Telfair,
Isaac .177
Thomas,
Hiram .291-294, .301
Thompson,
William .335
Tilton,
Wm. .53
Truman,
Morris .120
Tyson
Hough & Co. .147
Volans
(of Carlile and Volans) .47
Wagner,
Jacob .238
Walker,
Isaac .295, .296, .309, .321
Warder,
John, & Co. .241
Washburn,
Isaiah .336
Weeks,
James .275, .276, .310
Wetherall,
James .113
Wetherill,
John .157
Wetherill,
Saml. & Sons .157
White,
Stephen .23
Wignal's
Rest (tract of land) .40, .42
Wilkinson,
Dunn & Clark .140, .144
Wilkinson,
James .174
Williston,
H. .217, .337
Willson,
James .338
Wood,
William .339
Wright,
James .163
Young,
William .69, .182, .184
Youngman,
John C. .336