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:         Brinley, George P. (George Putnam), 1842-1892     

Title:               Bills and receipts

Dates:             1857-1863

Call No.:         Col. 498

Acc. No.:        76x96

Quantity:        10 items

Location:        34 J 3

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

George Putnam Brinley lived in Hartford, Connecticut.  He was born in 1842, the son of Frances Ellen Terry (1816-1876) and George Brinley, Jr. (1817-1875).  The Brinley family were established in New England by the mid-17th century, and many were prosperous merchants, marrying into other prosperous families.  George Putnam Brinley’s grandfather had been a merchant in Boston, but his father moved to Hartford, Conn., and he was chiefly known for being a book collector.  His collection, “the Brinley library,” was auctioned after his death and the proceeds totaled over $140,000.  George Putnam Brinley (a descendent of patriot Israel Putnam) was a clerk in the Phoenix Bank of Hartford and then an insurance agent, but eventually bought a farm, where he was settled by the time of the 1880 census in which he was listed as a farmer.  He died in 1892.  He married Mary Elizabeth Carter, the daughter of Henry K. Carter, and they had several children.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

These few bills and receipts document the purchases and repairs of personal items owned by George P. Brinley of Hartford, Conn.  He bought such goods as boots, a mahogany wash stand, candy, cakes, and some articles of clothing.  He had repairs done to his boots, watch, clock, and his chessmen.  An outstanding bill from a dentist is also included.  

 

Only some of the bills are definitely addressed to George P. Brinley, while others are addressed to Mr. Brinley or to George Brinley.  Presumably they were all to the same person, since they were found together, but it is possible some were sent to George P. Brinley’s father George Brinley.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The items 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 William Pennebaker.

 

 

RELATED MATERIALS

 

Brinley family papers are held by the library of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. 

 

Papers of George Brinley, Jr., father of George P. Brinley are held by the Connecticut Historical Society and by the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

Boots - Prices.

Candy - Prices.           

Clocks and watches - Repairing - 19th century.

Dental fees - 19th century.

Repairing.

Bills.

Invoices.

Receipts (Acknowledgments).

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 3

 

 

All accession numbers begin with 76x90.

 

.1         receipted bill: Master Geo. Brinley paid H. D. Hastings for repairing his chessmen, Hartford, Dec. 23, 1856-Jan. 4, 1857.

                        [Henry D. Hastings was a jeweler]

 

.2         receipted bill: Mr. Brinley paid R. Douthwaite [cordwainer] for fixing boots for G.P.B. and Master B., May 16, 1861;

 

.3         receipted bill: Mr. Brinley paid Deming & Gundlach [jewelers], for watch glass, cleaning watch, and repairing clock, July 27-May 20, 1861;

 

.4         receipted bill: Mr. Brinley paid E. E. C[illegible] for setting[?] 2 forks[?], June [or maybe Jan.] 3, 1862;

 

.6         receipted bill: Mr. Brinley paid Chas. [initial unclear] Warner[?], for a pair of boots, Dec. 11, 1862;

 

.7         receipted bill: G. P. Brinley, Phoenix Bk., paid B. & W. Hudson [dry goods and furniture], for a mahogany wash stand, Dec. 19, 1862.

 

.5         receipted bill: G. P. Brinley paid N. J. Brockett & Co. [clothing and linen drapers], for a shirt, 2 ties, 3 collars, and a pair of gloves, Dec. 10-18, 1863[?]

 

.10       note: Jas. McManus, dentist, to G. P. Brinley, requesting payment of his bill of $1.00

 

.8         receipt: G. P. Brinley paid Jas. McManus, Feb. 14, 1863

                        [James McManus and H. Preston were in partnership of Preston & McManus, dentists]

 

.9         bill to George Brinley, esq., from E. Wilcox, for candy, lemon drops, sundries, cakes, and a half dozen c.c., Oct. 18-19, Dec. 1, no year

                        [Everett Wilcox had a bakery and confectionary shop]