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:         Beckwith, Z (Zachariah), 1795-1862                         

Title:               Bills

Dates:             1851-1864

Call No.:         Col. 479

Acc. No.:        [various – see detailed description]

Quantity:        21 items (1 folder)

Location:        34 J 3

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Z Beckwith resided in Middlebury, Vermont, in the mid-19th century.  He owned a dry goods store.  Zachariah (also found as Zechariah) Beckwith was born in Bristol, Connecticut, in 1795, the son of Zachariah Beckwith and Eunice Gaylord, and died in Middlebury in 1862.  His wife was named Julia Smith.  They had several children.  In the 1850 and 1860 censuses, he was listed as a merchant.  Mr. Beckwith was usually listed just with the initial Z, not his full first name.

 

Z Beckwith’s son Buel Smith Beckwith (lived 1834-1900) was listed as a merchant in the 1860 and 1870 censuses and as a dry goods merchant in the 1880 census.  Presumably, he was the partner in Beckwith & Co. and was the purchaser of the goods in 1864.  Smith was married to Emma Augusta Wainwright (1842-1913).

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

This small collection of bills documents purchases made by Z Beckwith or Beckwith & Co. between 1851-1864.  Most of the items purchased were dry goods, including merino and laine wools, silk, satin, and taffeta.   Such other goods as gloves, parasols, ribbons, scarves, mourning collars, and braided or brocaded silk were also mentioned.  Miscellaneous purchases of scythes, nails, knives, and forks were noted as well.  Many of the firms represented were from New York City or Boston.  Most of the billheads feature illustrations of the stores or manufacturing facilities.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

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 Robert Rally.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

People:

            Beckwith, B. Smith (Buel Smith), 1834-1900.

 

Topics:

            Buildings – Pictorial works.

Dry-goods - Prices.

Factories – Pictorial works.

Ribbons.

Scythes - Prices.

Silk.

Textile fabrics - Prices - 19th century.

Invoices.

Bills.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 3

 

Folder 1 of 1:

 

62x68.2           receipted bill, Z. Beckwith paid Ordway, Prince & Co., Boston, Jan. 2, 1851: for various textiles, ribbon, edging, etc.

                                    Printed billhead: French silk goods, millinery articles, and trimmings; illustrated with picture of the Ordway & Prince store, with “Birthplace of Franklin” written at top of building.

 

62x74              receipted bill, Beckwith paid Merrell & Houghton, New York, April 22, 1851: for parasols.

                                    Printed billhead: the printed name Houghton, Merrell & Co. is crossed out and Merrell & Houghton is written in; umbrella, parasol, and sun shade manufacturers; illustrated with picture of an umbrella.

 

62x65              bill, Beckwith bought from Chesebrough, Stearns & Co., New York, April 24, 1851: hats, various textile fabrics.

                                    Printed billhead: silk goods; illustrated with picture of store, with wagons and people in street; printed by Childs Joselyn & Co.

 

62x63.1           partial bill, Z. Beckwith bought from Bowen and McNamee, New York, April 24, 1851, for edging, etc.  [bottom part of bill was cut off at some point and is not present]

                                    Printed billhead: silk and fancy goods; illustrated with picture of the store, with wagons and men in the street; the bill was printed by Wellstood, Benson & Hanks.

 

62x68.4           receipted bill, Z. Beckwith paid Ordway, Prince & Co., Boston, May 24, 1851: for handkerchiefs, tables, gloves, etc., with a note about why kid gloves were not sent.

                                    Printed billhead: French silk goods, millinery articles, and trimmings; illustrated with picture of the Ordway & Prince store, with “Birthplace of Franklin” written at top of building.

 

62x76              receipted bill, Beckwith paid David J. Millard, Agt., Clayville (formerly Paris Furnace), Oneida Co., N.Y., June 10, 1851; for grain and grass scythes.

                                    Printed billhead: manufacturers of sythes [sic], forks [for farm and garden use], and hay-knives; illustrated with picture of manufacturing building, labeled Paris Furnace Works, with wagons and men in front of structure.  The name Wm. Green Otiss appears below the illustration.

 

62x68.3           receipted bill, Z. Beckwith paid Ordway, Prince & Co., Boston, July 10, 1851: for various textiles, ribbon, etc.

                                    Printed billhead: French silk goods, millinery articles, and trimmings; illustrated with picture of the Ordway & Prince store, with “Birthplace of Franklin” written at top of building.

 

62x63.2           partial bill, Z. Beckwith bought from Bowen and McNamee, New York, Oct. 8, 1851, for black crape, handkerchiefs, lisle thread, gimp cord, algerine braid, ribbon, fringe, veils, etc.  [bottom part of bill was cut off at some point and is not present]

                                    Printed billhead: silk and fancy goods; illustrated with picture of the store, with wagons and men in the street; the bill was printed by Wellstood, Benson & Hanks.

 

62x63.3           bill, Z. Beckwith bought from Bowen and McNamee, New York, May 5, 1852, for various textile fabrics, oil silk, handkerchiefs, vestings, edgings, insertions, collars, cuffs, shawls, ribbons, gloves, etc.  [this appears to be page 1 of a bill, but page 2 is not present]

                                    Printed billhead: silk and fancy goods; illustrated with picture of the store, with wagons and men in the street; the bill was printed by Wellstood, Benson & Hanks.

 

62x63.4           receipted bill, Z. Beckwith bought from Bowen and McNamee, New York, Sept. 3, 1852, for marceline and brocade silk.

                                    Printed billhead: silk and fancy goods; illustrated with picture of the store, with wagons and men in the street; the bill was printed by Wellstood, Benson & Hanks.

 

62x70              receipted bill, Z. Beckwith paid H.B. & H.W. Wetherell & Co., Boston, Sept. 24, 1852: for ribbon.

                                    Printed billhead: French goods and millinery articles; illustrated with picture of the store, with “Old South Block” written at top of building.

 

62x63.5           receipted bill, Z. Beckwith bought from Bowen and McNamee, New York, Oct. 23, 1852, for various textile fabrics, drapery muslin, cambric insering, edgings, printed cashmere shawl, Italian cravats, worsted braid, trimming, ribbons, children’s and ladies’ hose, knitted boots, gloves, Bay State shawl, etc.

                                    Printed billhead: silk and fancy goods; illustrated with picture of the store, with wagons and men in the street; the bill was printed by Wellstood, Benson & Hanks.

 

62x68.1           receipted bill, Z. Beckwith paid Ordway, Prince & Co., Boston, Jan. 5, 1853: for gloves, tassels and cords, cloaks, galloon, ribbons.

                                    Printed billhead: French silk goods, millinery articles, and trimmings; illustrated with picture of the Ordway & Prince store, with “Birthplace of Franklin” written at top of building.

 

62x63.6           receipted bill, Z. Beckwith paid Bowen and McNamee, New York, June 18, 1853, for various textile fabrics and ribbons, lace, embroidered mourning collars, linen buttons, sewings, cravats, fans, black lace mitts, gloves, hose, socks, etc.

                                    Printed billhead: silk and fancy goods; illustrated with picture of the store, with wagons and men in the street; the stationery was printed by Wm.  W. Rose.

 

62x63.8           receipted bill, Z. Beckwith paid Bowen and McNamee, New York, June 29, 1853, for trimming lace.

                                    Printed billhead: silk and fancy goods; illustrated with picture of the store, with wagons and men in the street; the stationery was printed by Wm.  W. Rose.

 

62x78              receipted bill, Beckwith paid Nichols & Smith, New York, Nov. 17, 1853: for putty in cans.

                                    Printed billhead: manufacturers of oil and water colors, zinc paints, oil, varnish, sandpaper, glue, paint brushes, etc., and importers of various paint colors.  Illustrated with picture of factory, with the name J.A.H. Bell above the door as Nichols & Smith were successors to Jas. A. H. Bell.  Printed by Lauder.

 

62x63.7           receipted bill, Z. Beckwith paid Bowen & McNamee, New York, Nov. 18, 1853, for various textile fabrics, ribbons, silk twist, braid, lace veils, silk cravats, gloves, hose, child’s sacks and scarfs, etc.

                                    Printed billhead: silk and fancy goods; illustrated with picture of the store, with wagons and men in the street; the stationery was printed by Wellstood, Benson & Hanks.

 

62x79              receipted bill, Beckwith paid Pruyn, Vosburgh & Co., Albany, March 23, 1855, for table knives and forks, butter knives, pocket knives, lace scissors, tacks, nails, Bath brick, etc.

                                    Printed billhead: hardware, bar iron, nails, &c.;  illustrated with  picture of store, with the name Pruyn Wilson & Vosburgh on it.

 

62x67.1-.3       receipted bills, Beckwith & Co., Middlebury, Vt., paid Lathrop, Ludington & Co., New York, April 15, 1864: for various kinds of gloves and hose, toweling, diaper, linen and other textiles, collars, shawls, etc.

                                    Printed billhead: dry goods; illustrated with picture of store, with wagons and men in front.