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:         Porter, William, 1763-1847   

Title:               Invoices and receipts

Dates:             1799-1845.

Call No.:         Col. 423         

Acc. No.:        63x83

Quantity:        12 items

Location:        34 J 2

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

William Porter was a physician and merchant who lived in Hadley, Massachusetts, during the first quarter of the 19th century.  He was probably that Dr. William Porter who lived 1763-1847, the son of Susanna Edwards (1740-1803) and Eleazer Porter (1728-1797).  However, nothing was found to indicate that this Dr. Porter was also a merchant.     

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

This small collection contains bills and receipts addressed to Dr. William Porter of Hadley, Massachusetts between 1799-1845. Porter purchased hardware, silverware, jugs, churns, pails, tumblers, mirrors, some furniture, wallpaper, spectacles, bed cord, table hinges, chairs with reclining backs, and clothes lines.  In a note to Porter, Cyrus White of South Hadley ordered Russia sheeting, which White had previously ordered to use for portrait painting.  (Cyrus White was the father of artist Edwin White [1817-1877], so it is intriguing to speculate whether the sheeting was being ordered for Edwin’s use.)  Two items have printed billheads, one of which is also illustrated.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

Items are 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

 

Purchased from John Martin.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Artists’ materials.

Eyeglasses.

Furniture - Prices.

Glassware - Prices.

Hardware - Prices.

            Pottery - Prices.

Silverware - Prices.

Wallpaper - Prices.

Invoices (Acknowledgements).         

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 2

 

 

All accession numbers begin with 63x83

 

.1         receipted bill: Dr. William Porter paid Chas. Chapman, Northampton, Aug. 6, 1799: for fall back chaise, folding extra sticks[?], opening back;

 

.2         receipted bill: Dr. William Porter paid Elisha Bisbee, Hadley, July 12, 1810: for hardwood handles; receipt signed by Amasa Gere

 

.3         bill of hardware, to Mr. Wm. Porter from Salisbury & Cleveland, Boston, Sept. 26, 1810: for japanned thumb latches, woodscrews, cart boxes, bright chest locks, cast steel square files

 

.4         bill: Mr. Wm. Porter, merchant, Hadley, Mass., bot of Daniel Buck & Co., Hartford, May 6, 1812: for enameled teas, bowls, mugs, edged plates, twiflers, teapots, basket, etc.;

                        Paper has partial watermark, just showing year 1810

 

.5         receipted bill: Dr. Wm. Porter paid Daniel Waldo, Worcester, May 28,1812, for spectacles, spoons, pins, looking glasses; money received by Charles Budge;

 

.6         bill for stoneware: Wm. Porter bot of Goodwin & Webster, Hartford, July 6, 1812: gallon jugs, gallon pots, three gallon churns, inkstands, chamber pots;

 

.7         receipted bill: Dr. Wm. Porter paid Wm. G. Tuckerman, Boston, May 27, 1814: for stock locks[?], fish hooks, nails, clothes lines, compasses, table hinges, bed cords;

 

.8         receipted bill: Mr. W. Porter paid P. Mondelly, Boston, May 27, 1814: for mahogany frame looking glasses

                        Partial watermark visible

 

.9         receipted bill: Mr. William Porter paid Atkins & Homer, importers of crockery, china & glass ware, Boston, April 18, 1826: edged plates, twiflers, muffins; cc plates, twiflers, muffins, bowls, mugs; enameled mugs; sets of cups and saucers, fancy quart bowls, pitchers, cc nappies, edged dishes; cc peppers, mustards, and salts; enameled teas; twiflers; cc chambers; taper and knob wines, pint tumblers; with note: 2 dishes too many received;

                        On printed billhead

 

.10       short letter: Cyrus White, So. Hadley, Feb. 23, 1836, to Dr. Porter, Hadley: please send 15 yards Russia sheeting; mentions that he had previously purchased the same for portrait painting;

                        [note: Cyrus White (1795-1876) of South Hadley was the father of artist Edwin White (1817-1877).]

 

.11       receipted bill: on behalf of Catherine Coolidge, William Porter paid Noah Edson, Feb. 11, 1839: for bureau, dressing table, washstand, center stand, looking glass frame, and for painting and mending chairs

 

.12       receipted bill: Wm. Porter paid J. Bumstead & Son, manufacturers and importers of paper hangings, Boson, Sept. 25, 1845: for hanging rolls of wallpaper;

                        Printed billhead, illustrated with rolls of wallpaper