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:          Wheeler, Russell                                  

Title:               Bills

Dates:             1822-1828

Call No.:         Col. 523

Acc. No.:         79x126

Quantity:        102 items

Location:        34 K 4

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Major Russell Wheeler lived in or near Stonington, Connecticut, during the first quarter of the 19th century.  He ran a dry-goods or general store.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Collection documents what Russell Wheeler bought between 1822-1828.  Many bills note purchases of various dry goods, yarn, and thread.  Specific items frequently mentioned were silk, gingham, cambric, and cotton thread. Apparently Wheeler purchased thread and had Nathan Wheeler weave it into cloth for him.  Other purchases include such clothing as dresses, hats, and vests, and Moroccan and satin shoes.  Books, tobacco, liquor, a gold watch, lumber, hair combs, writing paper, various foodstuffs, and pots and kettles are mentioned as well.  A number of these items were purchased in large quantities, undoubtedly for Wheeler’s store.  A bill for a new chaise and harness includes a one year warranty “with fair usage” if any part should fail because of poor material or bad workmanship. 

           

 

ORGANIZATION

 

The bills are arranged chronologically.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchased from Doris Harris Autographs.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Wheeler, Nathan.

 

Topics:

            Dry-goods - Prices.

            Thread - Prices.

            Weaving - Connecticut.

            Clothing and dress - Prices - 19th century.

            Liquors - Prices.

            Carriages and carts.

            Receipts (Acknowledgments).

            Invoices.

            Bills.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 K 4

 

 


Folder 1:         Bills, 1822-1823 (acc. 79x126.1-.31)

The first item in this folder is “an account of sales” of chairs, dated February 28, 1822.  The name Morgan appears on it, and this may have nothing to do with Wheeler.  Small, kitchen, fancy, and rocking chairs are listed on this bill.  The other bills are for textile fabrics, food, twist and sewing silk, shoes, rum, bonnets and trimming, tea, loom parts, books (Bibles, hymnals, readers), etc.  As well, there are charges for making clothes, freight charges, and payments to Nathan Wheeler for weaving.  Some goods were purchased in large quantities, undoubtedly as stock for Wheeler’s store.

 

Folder 2:         Bills, 1824-May 1825 (acc. 79x126.32-.64)

The bills are for textile fabrics, food, sewing silk, shoes, rum, shingles, boards, a keg of powder, axes, tobacco, etc.  Several bills are from Nathan Wheeler, Jr., for weaving of gingham.  Again, some of the purchases are in large quantities.

 

Folder 3:         Bills, June 1825-April 1827 (acc. 79x126.65-.82)

Bills for tea kettles, spiders, and other kitchen wares, textile fabrics, glass panes (“lights”), mahogany boards, brooms, soap, tea, etc.  As well, there are charges for freight and wharfage.  Of especial interest is a bill for a new chaise and harness, which includes a one year warranty “with fair usage” if any part should fail because of poor material or bad workmanship.  A bill from Thomas W. Williams is for the wages due him for working in Wheeler’s store.  Again, some goods were purchased in large quantities.

 

Folder 4:         Bills, May 1827-1828 (acc. 79x126.83-.102)

Bills for sieves, textiles fabrics, kitchen wares, a leghorn bonnet, marble fireplace, watch chain, yarn, nails, flour, bed cord, etc.  Also bills for wharfage charges.


Index to names on bills in Col. 523 (acc. 79x126.1-.102)

 

Avery, Hannah   .25

 

Barber, N., Jr.   .2, .15

Benjamin, Ephraim   .23

Brown, E. C.    .94

Brown, Elias    .51

Brown, Jepthah    .11

Brown, John     .35

Brown, William    .5

Burlingame, R.  G.   .95

 

Chapman, Andrew, Jr.  .54

Chapman, Saml.    36

Cheseborough & Wheeler   .90

Cheseborough, Wm.     .90

Chesebrough, Henry & Silas  .83

Chesebro., Zeb.    .17

Child, Griffin   .47

Clark & Co.    .92

Clark, Amasa   .14

Coggshall, Wm. H.   .48

Cook, C. C.   .78

 

Davis, Clark, Jr.   .34

Dickins, Henry    .52, .53

Dickins, Tristram   .26, .53

 

Ellis & Murdock   .68

Ellis, Charles C.   .68

 

Fenner & Allen    .88

Frink, Joseph     .75

Fry, Archibald   .22

 

Gladding & Cady    .71-.73

Glasgow, Isaac C.   .49

Goddard & Williams    .100

Grant, Esther    .4

 

Hallam & Phelps    .26

Hartshorn & Arnold     .6, .19

Hempsted, B. & J.    .79

Hempsted, Josiah    .79

Hodges, Preston   .65

Holmes, John    .17

Hyde, John    .84, .86, .97. .98

 

Jaques, Amos, Jr.   .4

 

Knight, Timo.    .24

 

Lefavour, Thos., & Co.  .7

Lovell, Shubael S.     .16

 

Mack, Wm.   .87

McDonnough (sloop)   .3

Morehouse, John   .93

Morgan, Isaac    .1

 

Nedson, James  .55

 

Packer, Dan'l  & Co.  .50

Palmer, Amos    .85

Palmer, E. A.   .3

Palmer, Zeb. D.  .5

Park & Colegrove   .91, .102

Parker & Avery    .45

Pool, Thomas   .28

Potter, Thomas,   Jr.    .82

 

Ripley, Wm. D.    .67

 

Smith & Stiles & Co.   .43

Smith, David C.  .56, .101

Smith, Nathan    .76

Spermacetti (sloop) .52

Stanton, J. W. & Co.    .31, .96

Stark, Dudley   .21, .30, .41, .70, .80

Starkweather & Claflin    .77

Swan & States    .12

 

Tich (?), Washington B., & Co.  .69

Tillinghast, J.    .77

Topleff, Horatio   .64

Trumball, Smith & Co.   .18, .20

Trumball & Thurston   .89

 

Wardwell & Van Bueren   .38

Westcott, John      .58

Wheeler & Moss    .99

Wheeler, (Major)    .67, .100

Wheeler, Dudley R.    .39, .55, .62

Wheeler, Ephraim    .9, .10, .17, .20

Wheeler, Gurdon   .13, .42, .66

Wheeler, Nathan, Jr.  .29, .32, .33, .35, .44, .46, .59-.61, .74, .89

Wheeler, Russell (Major)  .1-24, .26-45, .47-.54, .56-88, .90-102

Wheeler, William R.    .55

White, Isaac    .8

White Rock Mfg. Co.  .95

Williams, Albert    .6, .19

Williams, Cyrus    .40, .57, .63, .96