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: 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.