The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:          Kermit family               

Title:               Bills

Dates:             1796-1823

Call No.:         Col. 427

Acc. No.:         64x76, 64x77 (Trex no. 1788-1808)

Quantity:        ca. 91 items

Location:        34 K 3

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Henry Kermit was a sea captain from New York, New York, during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  He resided at 19 Wall St. until he constructed a home at 84-85 Greenwich St. around 1801-1802.  He died ca. 1818-1819.  Robert Kermit was possibly his son.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

This collection of bills primarily documents the household expenses of Capt. Henry Kermit and his family from New York, New York, from 1796-1823.  Many of the bills relate to the construction of a home at 84-85 Greenwich St. which was apparently replete with marble, Italian brass, wallpaper, carpeting, and draperies, as well as woodwork and ornamental carvings.  Many of the bills mention masonry work, including brick and marble, miscellaneous carpentry and repair work, carved ornaments and columns, wallpapering, painting, whitewashing, lighting, various types of hardware, carpets, and draperies.  Also included are bills for harness and carriage purchase and repair, as well as for clocks, watches, guns, and bayonets.         

 

 

ORGANIZATION

           

The collection is arranged according to type of item purchased.

 

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchase from Emily Driscoll.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Bricks.

            Masonry.

            Woodwork.

            Decoration and ornament.

            Carpets \x Prices.

            Hardware \x Prices.

            Furniture \x Prices.

            Building.

            Wood-carving.

            Wallpaper \x Prices.

            Carriages and carts \x Maintenance and repair.

            Saddlery.

            Lighting.

            Clocks and watches.

            House furnishings \x Prices.

            Glassware \x Prices.

            Invoices.

 

Additional authors:

            Kermit, Henry.

            Kermit, Robert.

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 K 3

 

 

Folder 1:   Masonry

            Contains numerous bills for bricks, cement, and sand, as well as ornamental stone such as marble used for fireplaces and flagstones used for walkways.

 

 

Folder 2:   Miscellaneous Contract Work

            Contains bills for construction of stoops and doorways, replacing gutters and chimney holdfasts, and repairing locks and brass plates.

 

 

Folder 3: Woodwork

            Contains bills for making window sills, stairs, a circular arch, carving Ionic capitals, carving flowers, ornamenting folding doors, erecting banisters and hearth columns, and general construction of post and beams.

 

 

Folder 4: Painting, Wallpaper, Lighting

            Contains bills for wallpapering, hanging borders, puttying, whitewashing, painting, glazing window glass, and mounting lights.

 

 

Folder 5: Hardware

            Contains bills for nails, screws, hinges, locks, hand tools, Italian door handles, brass plates, hooks, springs, and pulls.

 

 

Folder 6: Saddlery and Carriage Repair

            Contains bills for bridles, harnesses, carriage springs, lamps, and varnishing and painting gigs and sleighs.

 

 

Folder 7: Carpets and Draperies

            Contains bills for vent carpeting, Brussels carpeting, a Wilton rug, curtain rods, and tacks.

 

 

Folder 8: Clocks, Watches, and Weapons

            Contains bills for clock and watch repair, watch chains, a gun, and a bayonet.

 

 

Folder 9: Furniture

            Contains bills for a chair, a sideboard, and a Grecian sofa.

 

 

Folder 10: Housewares

            Contains bills for tumblers, plates, teapots, pans, fish kettles, silverware, and china jugs.