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: Roe, Jason H.
Title: Letters to William Young
Dates: 1828
Call No.: Col. 488
Acc. No.: 75x306
Quantity: 13 items
Location: 34 J 3
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Jason H. Roe was a cloth manufacturer in Trenton, New
Jersey, during the 1820s. He is listed
in the 1830 census as a resident of Trenton, and was between 40 and 49 years
old. That much is certain. Other information was found for a man of the
same name, but there is nothing defintite to connect all the information. In
1813, a 24 year old teacher named Jason H. Roe, a native of Ireland, was
registered as an enemy alien residing in Sullivan County, New York. In 1844, Mary Ann Roe, daughter of Jason H.
Roe of Rahway, N.J., was married to James Miller of New York City. In the 1850 census, Jason H. Roe was listed
as a farmer in Rahway, Essex County, N. J.
This man was born in Ireland around 1785 (which matches the age of the
Jason H. Roe in Trenton in 1830), and his wife was named Sarah, born around
1795. In the 1855 New York state census,
Jason H. Roe was listed as having no occupation, and living with his daughter
Mary Ann and son-in-law James Miller, in New York City. In September 1864, Jason H. Roe was buried in
Green-wood Cemetery, Brooklyn.
According to the 1828 Philadelphia city directory, William
Young & Son were manufacturers of superfine cloth cassimeres, &c., and were
Delaware woolen manufacturers.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
This collection contains twelve letters from 1828 written
by Jason H. Roe to William Young concerning orders, payment, and shipment of yarn. Roe apparently made ticking and other items
from yarn supplied by Young. Many orders
note quantity and size of twists, including throstle and mule. Roe also makes mention of the dullness of
business, the difficulties of shipping in cold weather, the scarcity of
workers, and the imminent loss of one of his dyers. The collection also includes one letter from
Robb & Jackson of New York City, also to William Young, also about ordering
yarn.
ORGANIZATION
The letters are in 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 E. E. Moore.
ACCESS POINTS
Topics:
Business records - New
Jersey - Trenton.
Business records
- Pennsylvania - Philadelphia - 19th century.
Commercial
correspondence.
Spinning
Textile fabrics.
Textile industry.
Yarn.
Letters.
Additional author:
Young, William.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 J 3
All accession
numbers begin with 75x306.
.1 Jason H. Roe, Trenton, Jan. 16, 1828,
to William Young, Philadelphia: needs some fine yarn in order to fill an order
for fine check; inquires if Young has twist or reeled filling available for immediate
shipment; quality of the last sent was pleasing
.2 Jason H. Roe, Trenton, Feb. 4, 1828, to
William Young, Philadelphia: returning baskets and boxes; please send basket of
no. 25 @ 27 cops and as much twist as he can spare; if can’t ship by river, let
Roe know as he is bringing his wagon to Frankford; sales have been dull and the
roads are almost impassable;
.3 Jason H. Roe, Feb. 15, 1828, postmarked
Trenton, to William Young, Philadelphia: encloses his note for amount owed to
Young; thanks him for giving him time to pay; the roads have been too bad for
Roe to ship goods to customers; hopes to be in Philadelphia next week (“if
mother’s health will bear it”) and will bring baskets;
With added endorsement
dated 22d: about filling and fine yarns
.4 Jason H. Roe, Trenton, Feb. 22, 1828,
to William Young, Philadelphia: talks about “back waters” delaying things;
plans to go to Easton tomorrow; please send baskets cops no. 20@21 and 200
pounds of twist; one of his dyers can work the next two weeks but not after
that for some time so needs the yarn while the dyer can work; inquires how much
it costs to dye olive color; plans to visit Philadelphia;
.5 Jason H. Roe, Trenton, March 7, 1828,
to William Young, Philadelphia: in great want of his last order of twist, cops,
and finest spin; please send by next boat; would like to make arrangements for
a regular supply;
.6 Jason H. Roe, Trenton, April 29, 1828,
to William Young, Philadelphia: quality of twist and filling needed; orders 300
pounds every two weeks; making an article [coarse goods] for the northern part
of Pennsylvania of no. 7 to 9; am commencing a fine ticking and needs 17.18
twist; has been away for two weeks;
.7 J. H. Roe, endorsed July 1,
1828,postmarked Trenton, to William Young, Philadelphia: mentions want of money
among country merchants; Roes has sent his note to Young but may have to renew
it; has a scarcity of hands to work so only needs 200 pounds of twist and
filling every two weeks;
Inside letter: just
received 300 pounds of yarn so next time just needs 100 pounds; needs tom first
rate ticks as has “two excellent workmen for that particular kind of goods” but
will have to lay one off because of lack of market for their work;
.8 Jason H. Roe, Trenton, July 15, 1828,
to William Young, Philadelphia: ordering
100 pounds no. 19 cops and 200 pounds no. 17 throstle twist; finds that the
throstle and mule twists are “put up promiscuously together” but wants them to
be separated; also needs some ticking;
.9 Jason H. Roe, Trenton, Aug. 17, 1828,
to William Young, Philadelphia: needs some twist and filling; am making some
superior ticking if Young needs any;
.10 Jason H. Roe, Trenton, Aug. 11, 1828, to
William Young, Philadelphia: am getting ready to leave town for a week; orders
more yarn; thanks for the superior quality of the last goods you sent;
.11 Jason H. Roe, Aug. 22, 1828, to William
Young, Philadelphia: just returned from trip; had great difficulty in
collecting money; not sure will be able to pay the note but will know more when
hears from Mauck Chunk; [note in margin difficult to read:} packets have
brought no yarn[?] filling and is in need of that
.12 Jason H. Roe, Trenton, Oct.. 21, 1828, to
William Young, Philadelphia: bill for four pieces of super [something]; with
note: “hope they will please”
.13 part of a letter from Robb & Jackson,
New York, Dec. 10, no year, to William Young, Philadelphia: send 5 or 6 bales
of warp; mentions a throstle and a one half mule; have purchased a large lot of
British filling