The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:          Henry Sterling                                      

Title:               Bills

Dates:             1827-1864

Call No.:         Col. 611          

Acc. No.:         01x57

Quantity:        2 folders

Location:        18 B 2

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Henry Sterling was a dry goods merchant.  His store was listed in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, city directories from 1829 until 1838 and then again beginning in 1856.  It is not known where Sterling was living between 1838 and 1856; during this gap of time, he received bills from stores in Pittsburgh, but he does not appear in its city directories.  When Sterling again appears in the Philadelphia directories, beginning in 1856, his address was 1814 Arch Street.  From 1860, the directories listed him as “gentleman,” presumably an indication that he had retired from business. His wife’s name is unknown, but the following names, which appear in various bills, may be those of their children: Anna (or Annie), Samuel, William Henry, Mary Jane, Robert, Frank, Alexander.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The collection is composed of a group of bills and a few financial documents mostly addressed to Henry Sterling, 1827-1864.  The bills are from a variety of stores and craftspeople.  Among the goods purchased by the Sterlings were furniture, household goods, textile fabrics and sewing supplies, pharmaceutical items, and books.  There are a number of grocery bills and some from confectionery shops.  Doctors’ bills are not informative, the charges being merely for “services rendered.”

 

In addition, there is a blacksmith’s bill, a bill from an ice company, charges for the boys’ trip to Cape May, bills for buying or repairing shoes and boots, and a few bills for repairs and work done on Sterling’s house and his store.  A landscaper’s bill includes a list of plants. A few miscellaneous items include a tax bill and some other financial information.

           

 

ORGANIZATION

 

The items are arranged in chronological order.

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchased from Charles B. Wood III, Inc.

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Sterling family.

 

Topics:

            First Reformed Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Textile fabrics - Prices - 19th century.

Food prices - 19th century.

Plants, Cultivated - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

House furnishings - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Furniture - Prices - 19th century.

Landscape gardening - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Confectionery.

Ice.

Dress accessories.

Dwellings - Maintenance and repair - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Buildings - Repair and reconstruction.

Drugs.

Floor coverings - Prices - 19th century.

Patent medicine – Pennsylvania – Philadelphia.

Bills.

Tax records.

 

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 18 B 2

 

 

Folder 1: 1827-1846

 

01x57.1           September 6, 1827       bill for furniture, from J. Hanson

 

 

01x57.2           1829, Feb.-Dec.          bill for buckles, web, belt, hooks and eyes, tooth brush and paste, spool cotton, books, etc., from H. Scott

 

01x57.3           1831, Sept.-Dec.         bill for fabric, lace, thread, from G. E. Agnew, Philadelphia

 

 

01x57.4           Oct. 1831                    promissory note, signature torn off

 

01x57.5           January 1, 1832            bill for medical services for 1830-1831, from F. S. Beattie, Philadelphia

 

01x57.6           1832, Jan.-Aug.           bill for “recipe,” camphor, Warner’s cordial, tincture, lemon syrup, someone’s powder, yellow ochre, etc., from E. Macpherson

 

01x57.7           March 9, 1832             grocery bill, from John French, Philadelphia

 

01x57.8           1832, March, July        receipt for notes

 

01x57.9           November 1832           bill for carpeting, floor cloth, rugs, from S.(?) & B. Orne

 

01x57.10         July 8, 1833                 bill for taxes, Philadelphia

 

01x57.11         1833-1834                   bill for making and repairing shoes, from W. Johnston, Philadelphia; credit was given for fabric, blankets, umbrellas, handkerchief, etc.

 

01x57.12         Jan.1834-1835             grocery bill, from Charles Brewster

 

01x57.13         1834, Feb.-Nov.          bill for repairing and making shoes, from W. Johnston

 

01x57.14         April 12, 1834              bill for professional services from [Dr.] F. S. Beattie, Philadelphia

 

01x57.15         1834                            financial statement

 

01x57.16         Oct. 1834-1835           grocery bill, including liquor, from Thos. Reath, Philadelphia

 

01x57.17         1835                            bill for mending? From J. Matlock

 

01x57.18         August 1835                 court case from Huntingdon County, Henry Sterling vs. William Williams and Robert Williams

 

01x57.19         September 28, 1835     bill for pair of drawers, napkins, flannel, passage of boys to Cape May and their board there, from Wm. H. Scott, Philadelphia

 

01x57.20         1836, Jan.-Dec.           grocery bill, from Charles Brewster

 

01x57.21         1836, Feb.-Dec.          books for 1st Reformed Presbyterian Church Sunday School, from F. W. Porter, Philadelphia

 

01x57.22         August 31, 1836           books for 1st Reformed Presbyterian Church Sunday School, from Geo. W. Donohue

 

01x57.23         January 10, 1837          bill for making and repairing shoes, boots, and slippers in 1836, form Eliah Ehret, Philadelphia

 

01x57.24a        June 12, 1837              bill for making clothes for boys, from Catharine Service, Philadelphia

 

01x57.24b       July 7, 1837                 bill for making and repairing shoes, boots, and slippers, from Elias Ehret

 

01x57.25         September 9, 1837       bill for miscellaneous household items (bath tub, wash stand, toilet glass, etc., etc.), from T. W. L. Freeman

 

01x57.26         September 30, 1837     memorandum about notes being due

 

01x57.27         1837-1838                   bill for furniture, from Edmundson & McFarland, Pittsburgh

 

01x57.28         December 31, 1837     balance sheet of H. Sterling with I. & H. Alexander

 

01x57.29         1838-1839                   H. Sterling in account with W. H. Scott

 

01x57.30         May 10, 1838              memorandum about arrangement about notes

 

01x57.31         1838, July-Oct.            grocery bill, from G. Adams, Pittsburgh

 

01x57.32         1839, July-Oct.            memorandum about cash on an account, Wm. Bell & Co.

 

01x57.33         August 27, 1839           bill for boarding and lodging with Mrs. White of Philadelphia

 

01x57.34         1840, Jan.-April           account of sales of corn shovels, hay forks, grain shovels, etc.

 

01x57.35         July 1, 1840                 bill for quantities of garden hoes, corn shovels, spades, hay forks, etc.

 

01x57.36         1840? July-Dec.           memorandum about cash on an account, Wm. Bell & Co.

 

01x57.37         1843-1844                   bill for shoes and boots, from R. Tanner & Co.

 

01x57.38         1843-1846                   bill for clock and watch repairs, purchases of various items, from B. M. Fadden

 

01x57.39         1845, April-June          bill for repairs to house or store, from John D. Davis

 

01x57.40         1845, April –Dec.        grocery bill, from Robert Knox

 

01x57.41         1846, Jan.-Aug.           bill for fabric, ribbons, edging, buttons, etc., from Shea & Pennock, Pittsburgh

 

01x57.42         1846, May-June           bill for men’s clothing and for mending, from H. Morrison

 

01x57.43         1846, May-Dec.          bill for making and repairing shoes and boots, from M. Kinzer

 

01x57.44         July 10, 1846               bill for shoes and boots, from S. Keys, Pitts[burgh]

 

 

Folder 2: 1847-1864

 

01x57.45         1847, Feb.-July            bill for shoes and boots, and mending, from M. Kinzer

 

01x57.46-47    1847, June-Dec.           grocery bill, from Christopher Slade

 

01x57.48         1847-1848                   accounts for rents and taxes in Philadelphia, handled by Stuart & Bros.

 

01x57.49         1848, Jan.-June            shoe bill, and mending, from M. Kinzer

 

01x57.50         December 7, 1848       bill for hauling dirt, making frame, work on windows, bricklaying, etc., from Edward Allen, Pittsburgh

 

01x57.51         1849, Jan.-Nov.           bill for needles, combs, hair brush, etc., from Thomas A. Hillier

 

01x57.52         January 25, 1849          bill for ice cream, jelly, grapes, oranges, kisses, oysters, all sorts of cakes, madeira, sherry, etc., from Robert Knox

 

01x57.53         1851, Aug.-Dec.          bill for fabric, trim, sewing notions, from John Porter & Co., Pittsburgh

 

01x57.54         1854, Jan.-June            bill to Miss Annie Sterling, for fabric, trim, collars, bonnets, embroidered skirt, etc., from Young Stevenson & Love

 

01x57.55         1854, July-Oct.            bill to Miss Annie Sterling, for fabric, trim, collars, etc., from Young Stevenson & Love

 

01x57.56         1854, Jan.-Dec.           list of debts of Miss A. M. Sterling?

 

01x57.57         1855, March-May        bill for groceries, candles, taffy, from Chris. Slade

 

01x57.58         September 2, 1855       bill for a shovel, from Hugh Alexander, Philadelphia

 

01x57.59         September 3, 1855       bill for shoes [probably horse shoes], and bolts, from Cunningham McConnell, Philadelphia

 

01x57.60         September 5, 1855       bill for men’s clothing, from David Ray & Son, Philadelphia

 

01x57.61         October 31, 1955        bill for repairing chimney and wall at 209 Market St., from Augustus E. Shulze, Philadelphia

 

01x57.62         November 5, 1855       grocery bill, from James Miller, Philadelphia

 

01x57.63         February 10, 1858       bill for landscaping and plants, from Richard Park, Philadelphia

 

01x57.64         1858-1859                   bill to Robert. Shannon for scantling, hemlock, panel boards, white pine boards, etc., for 509 Market St., from Wm. J. Linnard

 

01x57.65         January 1, 1859            bill for vest(?), pants, and coat, from William & J. Neill, Philadelphia

 

01x57.66         January 1859                “Items of expence in renavating the store No. 509 Market Street for Henry Sterling, Esq.,” statement from George Gordon

 

01x57.67a        January 31, 1859          bill for boots for Frank, William, Elexander [i.e. Alexander], from P. Lynch, Philadelphia

 

01x57.67b       February 7, 1859         bill for painting and graining, glazing windows, etc., from George Gordon, Philadelphia

 

01x57.68         May 1859                    bill for medical services, from R. H. Townsend

 

01x57.69         July 1, 1859                 bill to Miss Sterling for cream puffs, ice cream , cakes, ice, etc., from W. Dove, Philadelphia

 

01x57.70         September 2, 1859       bill for locks for doors and chests, clothes box, framed slat bottom for iron bedstead, from Wm. Ledger

 

01x57.71         September 7, 1859       bill for corn, straw, hay, from A. Alcorn, Philadelphia

 

01x57.72         September 8, 1859       bill for gaiters, boots, slippers, from P. Lynch, Philadelphia

 

01x57.73         September 14, 1859     grocery bill, from J. Miller, Philadelphia

 

01x57.74         October 12, 1859        bill for ice cream and cakes, from William Dove, Philadelphia

 

01x57.75         October 13, 1859        grocery bill, from J. Miller, Philadelphia

 

01x57.76         November 1, 1859       bill for oats, straw, bran, from A. Alcorn, Philadelphia  

 

01x57.77         January 2, 1860            bill for “recipe,” castor oil, quinine pills, cologne, hartshorn, chloroform, sponges, oak bark, bay rum, etc., etc., from Caleb R. Keeney, Philadelphia

 

01x57.78         January 7, 1860            bill for shoes, boots, gaiters, from Patrick Lynch, Philadelphia

 

01x57.79         January 23, 1860          bill for ice, from Union Ice Company, Philadelphia

 

01x57.80         1860-1863                   account of bills, I. F. Sterling, A. M. Sterling

 

01x57.81         March 20, 1861           bill for “recipes,” bay rum, soap, sponges, camphor, etc., etc., from Caleb R. Keeney, Philadelphia

 

01x57.82         December 14, 1861     note to Henry Sterling about the need for him to pay A. C. Grell’s note which he had endorsed, Philadelphia

 

01x57.83         December 31, 1862     bill for pants, vest, coat, from William & J. Neill, Philadelphia

 

01x57.84         1863, April-Nov.         bill to R. Sterling for painting store at 509 Market Street and house on Arch Street, from M. Meyoneyal [Megonegal?]

 

01x57.85         June 23, 1863              bill to Miss Sterling for meat dishes, bowls, butter pots, water pitchers, tumblers, and other china wares, from John Firth, Philadelphia

 

01x57.86         June 29, 1863              list of items shipped to Cape Island, including furniture, food, bedding, etc.

 

01x57.87         July 11, 1863               grocery bill, from John Rutherford, Cape Island [now Cape May, New Jersey]

 

01x57.88         January 1, 1864            bill for conductor, spout head, and labor, from Barndollar & Price, Pittsburgh