The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Fry & Gross.

Title: Bills

Dates: 1831-1834

Call No.: Col. 482

Acc. No.: 75x212

Quantity: 95 items

Location: 34 J 3

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

The firm of Fry & Gross was in business in Trappe, Pennsylvania, in the 1830s. Gross was Thomas Jefferson Gross. Members of the Fry family were Jacob, Daniel, and Samuel, but it was probably Daniel who was in partnership with Gross. The name Fry was sometimes spelled Frey.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection of bills documents items purchased by the firm of Fry & Gross, as well as by Jacob Fry, Daniel Fry, Samuel Fry, and Thomas Gross. Most bills are from businesses located in Trappe, Philadelphia, or Limerick, Pennsylvania. Items mentioned include such tinware as cups, funnels, coffee pots, and colanders; buckets; liquor; candy, including rock, mint sticks, lemon sticks, and licorice; foods such as salt, sugar, chocolate, and flour; hardware such as nails, butt hinges; thumb latches, and bolt knob locks. Other items noted are cowhide and seal fur for caps and bags; paints, dyes, and inks; and various household utensils, including knives and bed cords. Some of the bills seem to have nothing to do with either Gross or any of the Frys.

ORGANIZATION

The bills are in 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

Purchased from William B. Pennebaker.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Tinware - Pennsylvania - 1830-1840.

Candy - Prices.

Liquors - Prices.

Hardware - Prices - 19th century.

Household supplies - Prices - 19th century.

Hides and skins - Prices.

Dyes and dyeing.

Ink - Prices.

Invoices.

Bills.

Additional authors:

Fry, Jacob

Fry, Daniel

Fry, Samuel

Gross, Thomas

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 34 J 3

.1 Fry & Gross bought of Samuel Krause of Limerick, Dec. 10, 1831, tin cups, funnel

.2 Fry & Gross bought of Samuel Krause of Limerick, Dec. 17, 1831, candlesticks; also a note about putting whiskey into a jug and saving it for Krause

.3 Fry & Gross bought of Samuel Krause of Limerick, Apr. 7, 1832, watering pots, tin buckets, coffee pots, wash basins, funnels, tin cups

.4 bill to Gross & Fry for cigars, 1832 [rest of date torn off]

.5 Jacob Fry & Thos. Gross bought of Samuel Krause of Limerick, May 9, 1832, tin ware, tin cups, funnel, candlesticks, measures, tin buckets

.6 Jacob Fry bought of I. Koons & Co., Philadelphia, [month torn] 20, 1831, brandy, rum, wine, copperas, brooms, and other items

.7 Jacob Fry bought of R. A. Parrish, Philadelphia, September 29, 1831, nails;

Signed by John Parker or Packer

.8 J. Fry, Jr., bought of R.A. Parrish, [no city], November 3, 1831, nails;

Signed by F. A. Com[torn]

.9 Jacob Fry bought of Isacc Koons & Co., [no city], November 9, 1831, chocolate, indigo, salt, sugar, crackers

.10 Jacob Fry, Jr., bought of Cope & Wite (or White), Frederick, November 13, 1831, pots;

Signed by Enos Cope

.11 Jacob Fry bought of G. Hoffman, Trappe, November 18, 1831, various kinds of brushes: sweeping, wall, horse, clothes, paint;

Signed G. & J. Hoffman

.12 Jacob Fry bought of I. Koons & Co., Philadelphia, December 21, 1831, brandy, salt, tea

.13 D. Fry bought of [blank], Trappe, January 3, 1831, whiskey;

Payment received by Jacob Clinefelter(?)

.14 note, Geo. Beck asks Daniel Fry to pay the bearer Israel A. Kurtz, October 12(?), 1831

.15 Daniel Fry bought of Conrad Feger, Trappe, December 15, 1831, whiskey

.16 D. Fry bought of S. Broom & Co., Philadelphia, March 16, 1832, rock candy, mint sticks, and other candy

.17 order from Daniel Fry, Trappe, January 1, 1832, to Broom & Co., for mint sticks, secrets, horehound, rock, and other candy

.18 Daniel Fry bought of Geo. Hoffman, Trappe, January 11, 1832, scrubbing brushes, paint brushes, sash tools;

Signed G. & J. Hoffman

.19 D. Fry bought of [blank], Trappe, March 13, 1832, whiskey

.20 D. Fry bought of [blank], Trappe, March 19, 1832, whiskey

payment received by Benjamin Baker

.21 D. Fry bought of Mr. Sheffie(?), Trappe, March 31, 1832, rakes;

Signed by [illegible]

.22 D. Fry bought of S. Broom & Co., Philadelphia, April 12, 1832, rock candy, mint sticks;

Signed by C. Wells

.23 Fry bought of Jacob Schook or Lock, Lower Milford(?), April 25, 1832, for basins, jugs, chamber pots

.24 D. Fry bought of S. Broom & Co., Philadelphia, April 26, 1832, rock candy, mint sticks, horehound candy

.25 D. Fry bought of John Jones for Thos. Gross, Trappe, May 28, 1832, whiskey

.26 receipt for payment made by Samuel Gross Fry, secretary of Trappe Brass Band, to A. T. Miller, treasurer, October 3, 1850(?)

.27 Thos. J. Gross bought of Sam. Detwiler, Perkiomen Mills, 1831, flour

.28 Mr. Gross bought of Samuel Roeller, [no city], October 29, 1831, cigars

.29 Jefferson Gross bought of Sam. Detwiler, Perkiomen Mills, November 8, 1831, flour

.30 receipt for payment made by Jefferson Gross to Sam. Detwiler, November 8, 1831;

Signed D. Rutter

.31 Jacob Fry bought of Berit(?) Wyman & Co., Philadelphia, November 9, 1831, goods;

Signed Wm. W. Babbit

.32 T. J. Gross bought of Sam. Detwiler, November 16, 1831, flour;

Signed by D. Rutter

.33 Th. J. Gross bought of D. Buckwalter, Trappe, November 17, 1831, tea, muslin

.34 “amt. pd. out drawer from Sept. 6 to Nov. 20, Trapp, Nov. 20, 1831, amt. not paid” [list of figures]

.35 T. J. Grose [sic] bought of Vail (or Nail) & Henry, Philadelphia, November 26, 1832, seal caps, boys caps, buffalo skin;

Signed by G. Purcell(?)

.36 J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, Perkiomen Mills, December 3, 1831, flour

.37 Jefferson Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, Perkiomen Mills, December 17, 1831, flour

.38 T. J. Gross bought of Sam. Detwiler, Perkiomen Mills, December 25, 1831, flour, etc.;

Signed by D. Rutter

.39 receipt for payment made by Jefferson Gross to Sam. Detwiler, December 26, 1831, signed by D. Rutter

.40 J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, Perkiomen Mills, January 20, 1832, flour

.41 [blank] bought of S. Broom & Co., Philadelphia, January 23, 1832, rock candy, licorice, mint sticks, lemon sticks

.42 T. J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, February 4, 1832, flour

.43 T. J. Gross bought of E. P. Cooke, Philadelphia, [month torn] 9, 1832, knives, forks, Wilson’s shoe knives, iron candlesticks, sewing awls, locks, Barlow knives, screws, hinges, thumb latches, etc.;

Signed by Jas. H. Ha[torn]

.44 Jefferson Gross bought of Sam. Detwiler, March 17, 1832, flour;

Signed by John F. Addington

.45 receipt for payment made by Jefferson Gross to Sam. Detwiler, March 26, 1832,

signed by John F. Addington

.46 Jefferson Gross bought of Sam. Detwiler, April 2, 1832, flour;

Signed by John F. Addington

.47 receipt for payment made by T. J. Gross to E.(?) F. Learning(? Leaming?), April 27, 1832;

Signed by James C. Do[torn]

.48 Thos. J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, Perkiomen Mills, April 14, 1832, flour;

Signed by John F. Addington

.49 T. J. Gross bought of Wm. H. Davis, Philadelphia, April 26, 1832, slippers, shoes, boots

.50 T. J. Gross bought of. J. E. Hagert, Philadelphia, April 27, 1832, sweeping brushes, scrub brushes, etc.

.51 T. J. Gross bought of Lowery(?) & Wall(?), [no city], Dec.(?) 27, 1832, bed cords, cow hides

.52 Thos. J. Gross bought of Wm. H. Davis, Philadelphia, May 10, 1832, slippers

.53 Mr. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, Perkiomen Mills, May 14, 1832, flour

.54 Thos. Jefferson Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, May 14-26, 1832, flour

.55 Thomas J. Gross bought of R. A. Parrish, [no city], May 28, 1832, nails, scythes, etc.;

Signed by John Narkes(?)

.56 Thos. J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, June 6, 1832, flour;

With note from John F. Addington

.57 T. J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, September 15, 1832, flour

.58 Thos. J. Gross bought of R. A. Parrish, Philadelphia, June 18, 1832, scythes, black [illegible], sun glasses, fish hooks, scythe stones, etc.;

Signed by B. Williams

.59 T. J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, June 29, 1832, flour;

Signed by John F. Addington

.60 Mr. Gross bought of J. Rubincam, Philadelphia, June 19, 1832, limes(?)

.61 T. J. Gross bought of R. A. Parrish, [no city], June 29, 1832, nails, bed screws;

Signed by F. A. Combs (or Comly)

.62 Thos. J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, July 4, 1832, flour, etc.;

Signed by John F. Addington

.63 receipt for payment made by Thos. Jefferson Gross to Sam. Detwiler, July 5, 1832,

signed by John F. Addington

.64 Thos. J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, July 4, 1832, flour;

Signed by John F. Addington

.65 Thos. J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, July-October 1832, flour, mackerel;

Signed by John F. Addington on November 21, 1832

.66 Thos. J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, October 11, 1832, flour

.67 Thos. J. Gross bought of Saml. Detwiler, September 15, 1832, flour;

Signed by John F. Addington

.68 T. J. Gross bought of R. A. Parrish, Philadelphia, October 15, 1832, hammers, darning needles, drill eyes(?), etc.

.69 Th. J. Gross bought of Jno. Patterson & Son, Philadelphia, October 22, 1832, cheese(?)

.70 Thos. J. Gross bought of Samuel Krause of Limerick, October 23, 1832, colandars

.71 Thos. J. Gross bought of Samuel Krause of Limerick, October 27, 1832, tin ware, oil cans, colanders, boilers, tin kettles

.72 Thos. J. Gross bought of Sam. Detwiler, October 29, 1832, flour, etc.;

Signed by John F. Addington

.73 Thos. J. Gross bought of Sam. Detwiler, November 21, 1832, flour

.74 torn document; one side reads: “1832 of Mr. T. J. Gross/ a/c nails to be delivered/ F. Leaming(?), by James C. Donnell”;

Other side reads: “Rec’d. Philada. M/ T.J. Gross twenty one/ of a [illegible] nails March/ $21.75/100”

.75 Mr. T. J. Gross bought of Frederick Klett & Co., Philadelphia, September 2, 1833, white lead, glass, varnish, turpentine, lamp black, putty;

Signed by J. W.(?) Dallas

.76 Tho. J. Gross bought of Jacob Brent(?), Dec. 3, 1833, children’s boots

.77 J. Gross bought of P. & A. Rovandt, Philadelphia, December 20, 1833, white chambers [i.e. chamber pots?]

.78 Thos. J. Gross bought of Jonas Rambo, Trappe, December 24, 1833, beef

.79 T. J. Gross bought of Israel D. Kurtz, Philadelphia, December 27, 1833, hat

.80 Thomas J. Gross bought of Bancroft Koons & Co., Philadelphia, January 6(?), 1834, velvet, white cotton balls, cotton yarn, etc. [partially torn]

“We have given you credit for [amount] paid by Mr. Beard.”

.81 Thos. J. Gros bought of Waterman & Osbourne, Philadelphia, January 17, 1834, oil

.82 Thomas J. Gross bought of R. A. Parrish, Philadelphia, January 21, 1834, screws;

Signed by B. Williams

.83 T. J. Gross bought of Joseph [torn], November 27, [date missing], putty, rosin, madders, cloves;

Signed J. Rea[illegible]

.84 bill for tin buckets and wash basins, no date; name on back: Krause

.85 bill headed at top: Gross, April 25, signature on back illegible; for razor strops, glasses, saws, shears, combs, blacking, knives, waiters, bolts, ink powder, etc.

.86 bill for cigars and something else, no date, name on back: Luciani(?)

.87 William Goodwin bought of Henry Grove, Philadelphia, September 27, 1831, timothy seed

.88 John Watt bought of Th. J. Gross, Trappe, January 7, 1832, whiskey, linseed oil, candles, etc.;

Signed by John Watt

.89 [torn] Patterson bought of Wilmer & Brother, Philadelphia, March 6, 1832, curl combs

.90 A. Sonder bought of Alexander Cook, [no city], April 5, 1832, candles;

Signed by Jno. McMullan

.91 Saml. N.(?) Skin(?) bought of H. Lintz(? Leutz?), April 18, 1832, mackerel

.92 order to S. Broom, Market Street, Philadelphia to send an order of secrets and horehound candy to Thos. J. Gross, Trappe, November 17, 1832, signed by Daniel Fry

.93 [blank] bought of Thomas Rhodes, Philadelphia, November 19, 1832, oil cloth

.94 order from Thoas. J. Gross to Grigg & Elliot, 4^th Street, Philadelphia, February 15, 1834, for common clarified quills, signed by D. Fry

.95 Anthony Custer bought of [Detwiler – name on back], no date, wheat, flour, including 2 barrels of flour for Th. J. Gross, signed by D. Rutter