The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Cowperthwait & Bros.
Title: Bills
Dates: 1854-1856
Call No.: Col. 478
Acc. No.: 81x467.1-.60
Quantity: 58 items
Location: 34 J 3
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
The Cowperthwait brothers owned a general store,
perhaps in or near Bordentown, Burlington County, New Jersey, in the mid-19th
century. The brothers have not been
identified. No Cowperthwaits were listed
in the 1850 census as living in Bordentown, although there were men of that
name living elsewhere in the county.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
This small collection of bills documents the
purchase and transportation of goods for a retail store owned by Cowperthwait
& Bros. Items mentioned include textile
fabrics, ribbons, millinery goods, brushes, brooms, lumber, boots, shoes,
Panama hats, gloves, clothes, hosiery, Colgate soaps, hammers, knives, screws,
nails, food, wine, pails, chains, tobacco, stationery, and blotting paper. Also included are bills for freight charges
from Philadelphia or New York to Bordentown, New Jersey. The bills had been in a flood at some point,
causing the ink to fade, and some are therefore difficult to read.
ORGANIZATION
The bills are in chronological order, not accession
number order.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Balish.
ACCESS POINTS
Topics:
Clothing and dress - Prices.
Food prices - 19th century.
Freight and freightage - Rates.
Hardware - Prices.
Millinery.
Household supplies - Prices.
Merchants - New Jersey.
General stores - New Jersey.
Billheads.
Invoices.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 J 3
All accession
numbers 81x467.
.7 bill for freight from New York to
Bordentown, via Camden and Amboy Rail-Road and Transportation Company, Nov. 29,
1854.
Printed
form, with name: Charles Fish, agent, South Amboy, N.J.
.5 bill for freight from New York to
Bordentown, via Camden and Amboy Rail-Road and Transportation Company, June 28,
1855.
Printed
form, with name Charles Fish, agent, South Amboy, N.J.
.6 bill for freight from New York to
Bordentown, via Camden and Amboy Rail-Road and Transportation Company, June 28,
1855.
Printed
form, with name Charles Fish, agent, South Amboy, N.J.
.9 bill for freight from Philadelphia to
Bordentown, via Camden and Amboy R.R. and Transportation Company, for hats,
brooms, kegs, cheese, cans, etc., July 6, 1855.
Printed
billhead, dated Bordentown.
.31 from G. W. Hickman & Co.,
Philadelphia, Pa., July 6, 1855, for tobacco.
.34 from William Jackson, Philadelphia, Pa.,
July 6, 1855, for textile fabrics, including linen, Marseilles, cassimere,
duck;
Printed billhead: CLOTH
STORE, N. W. corner of Market & Second Streets.
.18 from Dilworth, Branson & Co.,
Philadelphia, Pa., July 6, 1855, for knives, shears, snuffers, Quinnebaug [sic]
rifles, hammers, hatchets, locks, screws, tea and table spoons, fish hooks, etc.
Printed billhead:
Hardware House.
.56 from William Whitaker, New Egypt, [New Jersey,]
July 12, 1855, for purchase of goods (ropes and lines? too faded to read).
.46 from J. J. Richardson & Co.,
Philadelphia, Pa., July 17, 1855, for 100 lemons(?).
Printed billhead, with
description of goods sold (gum Arabic drops, jelly cakes, cream chocolate, [other
candies], and foreign fruits).
.60 from Q. [illegible], Philadelphia, Pa.,
July 17, 1855, for a lamp.
.38 from C. P. Knight & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., July 17, 1855, for cheese.
Printed billhead:
Commission Merchants, and dealers in fish, cheese, and provisions generally.
.32 from G. W. Hickman & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., July 17, 1855, for tobacco.
.35 from William Jackson, Philadelphia, PA.,
July 17, 1855, for cloth.
Printed billhead: CLOTH
STORE, N. W. corner of Market & Second Streets.
.10 bill for freight from Philadelphia to
Bordentown, via Camden and Amboy Rail-Road and Transportation Company, July 17,
1855, for stools, chairs, a demijohn, and other items.
Printed billhead, dated
from Bordentown.
.17 from Dacosta & Brother, Philadelphia,
PA., July 17, 1855, for glass buttons, embroideries, tapestry needles, edging,
etc.
Printed billhead:
trimmings, hosiery, gloves, embroideries, & fancy small wares.
Illustrated with slogan
“Remember to look for THE RED 5 ½”;
Printed by Torr
.19 from Dilworth, Branson & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., July 17, 1855, for wine, butter, a shoe punch, tobacco
knife, a pocket knife, and other goods.
Printed billhead:
Hardware House
.23 from Thomas Estlack, Jr. & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., July 17, 1855, for “fluid.”
Printed billhead:
Wholesale Dealers in Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, …, Fluid, Camphine, &c.,
&c.
.24 from Thomas Estlack, Jr. & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., July 17, 1855, for E. Salts [Epsom salts], cinnamon,
copperas, Ven. Red [Venetian red], etc.
Printed billhead:
Wholesale Dealers in Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, …, Spices, Fluid, Camphine,
&c., &c.
.25 from D. S. Freeland & Son,
Philadelphia, PA., July 17, 1855, for Panama hats.
Printed billhead:
Wholesale and Retail Hat and Cap Manufactory. Beaver, Moleskin, Silk & Fur Hats, [other
hats], buffalo robes, muffs & boas, cloth and fur caps.
.28 from Hendry, Cooper & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., July 17, 1855, for Morocco Lace Boots and other kinds of
boots, including those for children and boys.
Printed billhead:
Wholesale Boot, Shoe, Bonnet & Palm Leaf Hat Warehouse.
Illustrated with image
of storefront.
.51 from R. K. Stewart, Philadelphia, PA.,
July 17, 1855, for dress trimmings.
Printed billhead:
Ladies’ Dress Trimmings Store. Ladies’ Stamped Collars, Bands & Spencer
Manufacturer. (Late A. White & Co.)
.33 from J. Hollowbush, Philadelphia, PA.,
July 31, 1855, for books, a receipt book, blotting board, and a scrap book.
Printed billhead: Blank
& School Book, Paper & Stationery Store.
.8 bill for freight from New York to
Bordentown, via Camden and Amboy Rail-Road and Transportation Company, August
1, 1855.
Printed form, with name
Charles Fish, agent, South Amboy, N.J.
.58 from M. Wilson, New York, Aug. 1, 1855,
for stocks [men’s clothing].
Printed billhead:
Wholesale Manufacturer of Shirts, Stocks & Collars.
Illustrated with image
of store in the Gilsey Building.
.42 from Francis Lasher, Philadelphia, PA.,
Aug. 8, 1855, for gingham(??).
Printed billhead.
.47 from J. J. Richardson & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., Aug. 8, 1855, for 50 lemons(?).
Printed billhead, with
description of goods sold (gum Arabic drops, jelly cakes, cream chocolate, [other
candies], foreign fruits).
.29 from Hendry, Cooper & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., July 17, 1855, for brogans, goat boots, gaiters, shoes, bloomer
juliens, and other goods.
Printed billhead:
Wholesale Boot, Shoe, Bonnet & Palm Leaf Hat Warehouse.
Illustrated with image
of store building.
.49 from Smith, Murphy & Co., Philadelphia,
PA., Aug. 14, 1855, [bill is too faded to read.]
Printed billhead:
Wholesale Dealers in Foreign and American Dry Goods.
.2 from William C. Allen, Philadelphia, PA.,
Aug. 15, 1855, for a pail, a duster(?), etc. [difficult to read]
Printed billhead: Cheap
Broom, Wood and Willow Ware Store.
Illustrated with image
of man weaving baskets.
.12 from Chambers & Johnson,
Philadelphia, PA., Aug. 15, 1855, for silk gloves, woolen socks, ladies’
hosiery, leather belts, lace buttons, English pins, shoe laces, and other
accessories.
Printed billhead:
Dealers in Staple and Fancy Trimmings. Hosiery, Gloves, Ribbons, Threads,
Needles, Ladies’ Dress Trimmings, etc.
.39 from C. P. Knight & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., Aug. 24, 1855, for cheese and other goods. [difficult to
read]
Printed billhead:
Printed billhead: Commission Merchants, and dealers in fish, cheese, and
provisions generally.
.15 from William Colgate & Co., New York,
Aug. 29, 1855, for candles and soap.
[difficult to read]
Printed billhead: Starch,
Soap and Candle Manufacturers.
.36 from Wm. D. Jones and Co., Philadelphia, PA.,
Dec. 11, 1855, for silk, thread, yarn, muslin, etc. [difficult to read]
Printed billhead.
.16 from George W. Cowperthwait, Tom’s River,
N. J., Dec. 17, 1855, for flour(?), with message written at bottom of page (too
faded to read).
Printed billhead: The
People’s Store! Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Paints & Oils, Flour &
Feed, Boots & Shoes, Stoves & Tin Ware, Charcoal & Lumber.
.37 from Wm. D. Jones & Co., Philadelphia,
PA., Jan. 17, 1856, for gingham and other goods (too faded to read).
Printed billhead.
.26 from W.E. Garrett & Son,
Philadelphia, PA., Jan. 18, 1856, for snuff.
Printed billhead:
Extensive Manufacturers of Scotch & Rappee Sunffs, warranted of very
Superior Quality. Successors to Levi
Garrett & Sons.
.52 from Charles D. Thum, Philadelphia, PA.,
Jan. 18, 1856, for shaving compound, scrub, and tools.
Printed billhead: Brush
Manufacturer;
illustrated with
images of brushes, and medals from the Franklin Institute.
.59 from S. S. Wyckoff & Co., New York,
Jan. 18, 1856, for coffee(?).
Printed billhead.
.21 from Wm. Eastwood, Philadelphia, PA.,
Jan. 18, 1856, for pails.
Printed billhead: Cotton
Yarn Warehouse. Wholesale Dealer in
Cotton Yarns, Wood & Willow Ware, Brooms, Buckets, etc.
(Blue advertisement on bill has been glued onto the paper.)
.50 from Edward Snowdon, Philadelphia, PA.,
Feb. 5, 1856, for glass nappies, can and dolphin candlesticks, painted teas,
edged plates, white granite tea set, etc.
Printed billhead:
Importer and Dealer in Queensware. China and Glass.
Illustrated with image
of pitcher.
.27 from Hall, Ruckel & Co., New York,
March 7, 1856, for goods (too faded to read).
Printed billhead: Drugs,
Medicine, Paints, Oils, Glass, etc. Manufacturers of Superior Friction Matches.
Agents for Bryan’s Pulmonic Wafers, Hummel’s Essence of Coffee, Jenny Lind
Chewing Gum, etc.
.45 from Miller, Powers & Hedges, New
York, March 8, 1856, for boots, men’s heavy rubbers, men’s’ sandals, ladies’
overshoes, infant socks, etc.
Printed billhead:
Manufacturers and Wholesale Dealers in Boots, Shoes, and Brogans, of every
description.
.53 from Charles D. Thum, Philadelphia, PA.,
March 10, 1856, for scrub and other brushes.
Printed billhead: Three
First Premiums Awarded by Franklin Institute: C.D. Thum, Manufacturer…of
Brushes, and Dealer in Combs, etc.
.54 from Charles D. Thum, Philadelphia, PA.,
March 14, 1856, bill too faded to read.
Printed billhead: Brush
Manufacturer;
illustrated with
images of brushes and medals from the Franklin Institute.
.13 from Chambers & Johnson,
Philadelphia, PA., March 24, 1856, for agate and pearl buttons, hosiery, combs,
English pins, etc.
Printed billhead:
Dealers in Staple and Fancy Trimmings. Hosiery, Gloves, Ribbons, Threads,
Needles, Ladies’ Dress Trimmings, etc.
.40 from C. P. Knight & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., March 24, 1856, for mackerel and cheese.
Printed billhead:
Commission merchants, and dealers in fish, cheese and provisions generally.
.30 from Hendry, Cooper & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., April 7, 1856, for goods (too faded to read).
Printed billhead:
Wholesale Boot, Shoe, and Straw Goods Warehouse.
Illustrated with image
of store building.
.55 from Charles D. Thum, Philadelphia, PA.,
April 9, 1856, for brushes and other items.
Printed billhead: Brush
Manufacturer;
illustrated with
images of brushes and medals from the Franklin Institute.
.1 from B. Abeles, Philadelphia, PA.,
April 10, 1856, for ribbons and other goods.
Printed billhead:
Wholesale Dealer in Embroideries, Ribbons, Gimps, hosiery, Gloves, Millinery
Goods, etc.
.4 from John Borden, Philadelphia, PA.,
June 18, 1856, for women’s gaits, children’s boots, and Panama hats.
Printed billhead:
Wholesale Dealer in Boots, Shoes and Straw Goods.
.22 from Wm. Eastwood, Philadelphia, PA.,
June 18, 1856, for fancy and corn brooms, 20” churn, cedar pails, etc.,
with another
bill attached: from Joseph W. Howell, June 18, 1856, for books and other items.
Printed billhead for Eastwood:
Cotton Yarn Warehouse. Wholesale Dealer
in Cotton Yarns, Wood & Willow Ware, Brooms, Buckets, etc. (The blue advertisement is glued to the
printed bill.)
.3 from W.H. & G.W. Allen,
Philadelphia, PA., June 26, 1856, for gun parts(?).
Printed billhead:
Hardware, Cutlery and Guns.
.14 from Chambers & Johnson,
Philadelphia, PA., June 26, 1856, for fringe (?) and other items (too faded to
read).
Printed billhead:
Dealers in Staple and Fancy Trimmings. Hosiery, Gloves, Ribbons, Threads,
Needles, Ladies’ Dress Trimmings, etc.
.44 from Martin & Wolff, Philadelphia, PA.,
July 17, 1856, for linen, muslin, spools of thread (white and colored), etc.,
with note written at bottom of page regarding linen and drab cotton.
Printed billhead:
Importers & Wholesale Dealers in Foreign & Domestic Dry Goods.
.41 from C. P. Knight & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., July 22, 1856, for mackerel and cheese.
Printed billhead:
Printed billhead: Commission merchants, and dealers in fish, cheese and
provisions generally.
Illustrated with images
of a fish and a pig.
.20 from Dilworth, Branson & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA., July 14, 1856, for keg of nails.
Printed billhead:
Hardware;
illustrated with
image of a lock.
.48 from E. Robinson, Philadelphia, PA., date
illegible, for window dressings(?).
[difficult to read]
Printed billhead: Window
Shade Manufacturer. Every description of Plain and Ornamental mental Window
Shades; Steamboat, Wire Gauze and Store Shades…etc. [also sign writing and
exhibition transparencies]
.11 bill for freight from Philadelphia to
Bordentown, via Camden and Amboy Rail-Road and Transportation Company, date
illegible, for coffee, brooms, and other items (too faded to read).
Printed billhead, dated
from Bordentown.