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: Vaux, Richard, d.1790.

Title: Business records

Dates: 1782-1790; 1782-1783, 1785, 1790 (bulk dates).

Call No.: Col. 695

Acc. No.: 71x2; 77x19

Quantity: 3 items

Location: 3 I 10

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Richard Vaux was born in London around 1751 and moved to Philadelphia in 1768. He and his family were Quakers, and father George was a doctor in England. Richard obtained an apprenticeship in the dry goods firm of Samuel Sansom and Son and later established himself as a merchant. Because Vaux was suspected of being a Loyalist, he was forced to leave Philadelphia during the American Revolution, and he spent several years traveling on business in England, the European Continent, and the Caribbean. He returned to Philadelphia in 1783 and married Ann Roberts, the daughter of a merchant. Their children were Susannah and Roberts. Vaux died in 1790.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Two volumes and a bill of lading recording shipments made by Richard Vaux from Saint Thomas and from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1782-1790. The bill of lading is dated 1790 and details a shipment of handkerchiefs and textiles from London to Philadelphia. The smaller volume records shipments from Saint Thomas in 1783. The records specify the name of the ship, the captain of the ship, the port for which it was bound, to whom the cargo was consigned, and a list of the goods in the shipment. Vaux was shipping goods to Baltimore, Virginia, Boston, Wilmington, Philadelphia, London, and Bristol. He shipped a variety of goods, including tools, textiles, riding equipment, stationery supplies, and cash. The records give much detail about the tools and textiles that were shipped; for example, among the tools were different size chisels, augers, hammers, hand saws, shoe knives, etc. Among the textiles shipped were calicoes, copperplate upholstery fabric, muslin, chintz, cottons, moreen, plus some items of clothing: britches, caps, and hose. Some of the shipments were listed as being made for Ambrose Lloyd.

The larger volume is a daybook containing accounts and records of Vaux’s expenses in Saint Thomas and Philadelphia from 1782-1783 and 1785. It has columns for recording the monetary amounts in sterling, windward currency, or pieces of eight. The records are a mix of personal expenses (for a hair cut, a frame for a writing desk, boarding expenses, and laundry) and business transactions. He records sales of textiles, beer and cider, hose, blankets, men’s hats, china, teapots, pins, fox tails, handkerchiefs, ribbon, frocks and trousers, glasswares, lanterns, whips, canes, children’s corals, jewelry, and food (especially tripe, ham, and cheese). Details about many of the goods are given. For example, the copperplate furnishing textiles are listed by the designs on them: grapes, foxglove, small bird, huntsman and dogs, pagoda, Japanese, cobbler, Diana, pheasant, tiger, and Chinese. Hats came in an assortment of colors and trims. There were plain and flint mason wine glasses and tumblers in various sizes. Bengal fabrics were striped in gold, red, purple, or blue. One could buy a silver capped twig whip, a common whip, a half hunter, a common chaise, a whole hunter, or a horn hook twig whip.

ORGANIZATION

The items 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

Accession 71x2.1-.2 purchased from Baldwin’s Book Barn.

Accession 77x19 purchased from Doris Harris Autographs.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Lloyd, Ambrose.

Tyson, Daniel, d.1795.

Topics:

Commerce.

International trade - 18th century.

Business records - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia - 18th century.

Business records - Virgin Islands - Saint Thomas - 18th century.

Hardware.

Clothing and dress - 18th century.

Hats.

Indian textile fabrics.

Shipment of goods.

Textile fabrics - 18th century.

Tools.

Upholstery.

Whips.

Saint Thomas (V.I.) - Commerce - 18th century.

United States - Commerce - 18th century.

Account books.

Bills of lading.

Merchants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 3 I 10

Acc. 71x2.1 records of shipments from Saint Thomas, 1783

The records specify the name of the ship, the captain of the ship, the port for which it was bound, to whom the cargo was consigned, and a list of the goods in the shipment. Vaux was shipping goods to Baltimore, Virginia, Boston, Wilmington, Philadelphia, London, and Bristol. He shipped a variety of goods including tools, textiles, riding equipment, stationery supplies, and cash. The records give much detail about the tools and textiles that were shipped, for example among the tools specified were different size chisels, augers, hammers, hand saws, shoe knives, etc. Among the textiles shipped were calicoes, copperplate upholstery fabric, muslin, chintz, cottons, moreen, plus some items of clothing such as britches, caps, and hose. Some of the shipments were listed as being made for Ambrose Lloyd.

A name index to this volume is appended to this finding aid.

Acc. 71x2.2 daybook, Saint Thomas and Philadelphia, 1782-1783, 1785

The day book contains accounts and records of Vaux’s expenses in Saint Thomas and Philadelphia from 1782 to 1783 and 1785. It has columns for recording the monetary amounts in sterling, windward currency, or pieces of eight. The records are a mix of personal expenses and business transactions. He records sales of textiles, beer and cider, hose, blankets, men’s hats, china, teapots, pins, fox tails, handkerchiefs, ribbon, frocks and trousers, glass wares, lanterns, whips, canes, children’s corals, jewelry, and food (especially tripe, ham, and cheese). Details about many of the goods are given, such as the names of patterns on textiles or descriptions of the different kinds of whips being sold.

Acc. 77x19 bill of lading, 1790

The bill of lading gives details about a shipment of handkerchiefs and textiles from London to Philadelphia.

Index to acc. 71x2.1, records of shipments from Saint Thomas, January 24-October 29, 1783

Anna Maria (ship) 19

Backa, Capt. 20

Baillie (of Bright, Baillie & Bright) 12

Brickwood, J. 6, 8

Brickwood, John 1, 18, 19

Brickwood, John, & Co. 18

Bright, Baillie & Bright 12

Butler, Anthony 9

Butterfield, Natl. 3, 6, 7

Carey, James 10, 17

Catherina 23

Coffin., Jeremiah 12

Constantine 12

Crockett, Benjn. & John 7

Crockett, John 7

Cunningham, Robert (Capt.) 9

DeLeon., Isaac 21

Dispatch (schooner) 7, 8

Douglass, William 33

Emperor of Germany (ship) 20

Fabry & Sugnin 21

Ferdinanda Victoria (ship) 20

Fortune (brig) 9

Gay, John 33

Hagart, Charles, & Co. 21

Hale & Humphreys 15, 33

Hammond, William 1, 3, 6, 7

Hart, Malcolm 2

Henry Maurice 11, 12, 14, 15

Hero 3, 6, 7

Howell, S. (Captain) 21

Howell, Samuel 21

Humphreys (of Hale & Humphreys) 15, 33

Johnston, George 20

Jones, William 21

Lloyd 9

Lloyd, A. 3, 6

Lloyd, A., and Vaux 9

Lloyd, Ambrose 2, 11, 12, 14, 16-20, 22

Lloyd, Talwin, & Co. 18

McNeal, Archibald 12, 14, 11

(also spelled McNeill)

McNeill, Archibald - see McNeal

Morris 10

Neilson, Casper (Capt.) 20

Passmore, Henry (Capt.) 19

Plunket, David 8

Providence (brigantine) 10

Rohlap, Daniel (Capt.) 23

Ruth (schooner) 2

Sarah Bernardus 20

Shubrick, R. 7

Shubrick, Richard 16

Sparrow, John 33

Speedwell (brig) 21

Stephenson, Daniel 15

Stephenson, William 15

Tatem, Solomon (Captain) 2

Tyson, Daniel 1, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19-21, 23

Vaux, Richard 1, 3, 6-11, 15-23

Willing Maid (schooner) 1

Wilkie, Thomas 15-19

Winning, John (Capt.) 7, 8

Index to acc. 71x2.2, account book of Richard Vaux, St. Thomas and Philadelphia, 1782-1785

Abendanone, Abraham 17, 25, 26, 46

Anna Maria (ship) 64, 82, 84

Areson, Samuel 16

Aurvra(?) (ship) 77, 84

Backa, Capt. 67

Baillie (of Bright, Baillie & Bright) 57, 81

Baillie, James 80

Benjamin 39

Benjamin and Myers 28-32, 35, 36 49, 55, 69, 88, 89

Benjamin, Solomon 35, 55

Bowers 77, 78

Bowers, Benjamin 79

Bowery, Richard (Doctor) 33

Brickwood 22

Brickwood & Lloyd 82

Brickwood, J. 19, 22, 23, 25-28, 32-38, 41, 44, 88

Brickwood, John 1, 5, 22, 27, 36, 41, 43, 44, 47, 50, 63, 65, 75-77, 80, 88, 89, 90

Bright, Baillie & Bright 57, 81

Brown, Mariea 36, 40

Brown, Mary 61, 64, 65, 67, 69

Burke, Doctor 61

Butler, Anthony 52, 54, 55, 83, 90

Butler, J. 61

Butterfield, Nathan'l (Capt.) 47-49

Carey, Capt. 79

Carey, James 24, 52, 63, 66, 68, 72, 89

Catherina Maria (ship) 73, 74, 80, 84

Chamberline, Capt. 65

Clapham 82

Coffin, Capt. 57, 59, 81

Commerce (ship) 22, 64, 81

Constantine (ship) 57, 59, 81, 84

Cook, Catherine 56, 59, 62, 71

(also spelled Cooke, Crook)

Cook, Caty [House] 39

Cooke, Catharine - see Cook

Crockett, Benjamin and John 50

Crockett, John 50

Crook, Catherine - see Cook

Cunningham 83

Cunningham, Robert (Capt.) 54, 55

Danish West India Company 75

Davis & Protheroe 44-46, 76, 85

DeLeon, Abraham 33, 34, 60, 72, 89

DeLeon, I. 82

De Leon, Isaac 1-17, 33, 35, 38, 44, 49, 50, 52, 54, 59, 61, 62, 65, 67, 69, 72, 80

DeLeon, Juda H. 41, 45

Dickinson, Richd. 26

Dickinson, Thomas & R. 32

Dickinson, Thomas & Richd. 26, 27, 33, 36-38, 50, 55, 59, 69, 77, 89

Dilworth 78

Dispatch (schooner) 50, 51, 75, 81, 84

Douglas, William - see Douglass

Douglass, William 41, 67, 68, 70

(also spelled Douglas)

Downes, William, & Co. 53, 90

(also spelled Downs)

Downes, William 18, 19, 26-28, 37, 52, 69, 71, 72, 81, 89

(also spelled Downs)

Downs, William, & Co.- see Downes

Downs, William - see Downes

Dunbar 55

Edmons, Charles 74

Elder, Thomas (Doctor) 27, [89]

Elliot & Searight 36, 38

Elliot & Seright - see Elliot & Searight

Elms, Edward 60

Emperor of Germany (ship) 66, 82, 84

Evers 53, 56, 74, 75, 79, 80, 81, 87

Evers, Capt. 36, 61, 76

Evers, Jacobus 1, 38

Fabry & Sugnin 69, 70

(also listed as Fabry Sugnin & Co.)

Ferdinand Victoria (ship) 65

Fisher, John 68, 70

Fortune (brig) 54, 55, 83, 87

Freath 77

Freeth & Co. 80

Fuller 84

Fuller, Benjamin 59, 61, 62

Gay (of Mitchell & Gay) 18, 19, 21, 37, 38, 81

Gay, John 43

Gibbins, John - see Gibbons

Gibbons, John 34, 39, [68,] 69

(also spelled Gibbins)

Grant, Wm. 72

Hagart, Charles, & Co. 68

Hale and Humphreys 39, 41-47, 51, 58, 64, 81, 89

Hammond, William 43, 47-49, 75

Hanson 27

Hanson, Benjamin 27, 40

Harris, David 37, 40, 46

Hart, Malcolm 42

Haxall (of West and Haxall) 80, 90

Haxall, William 55, 60-62, 64, 88

Haxall, William, & Co. 56, 59, 60, 61, 67, 69, 73, 88

Hay, Elizabeth 22, [26,] 28, 33, 40, 52, 56

Hekerberg 33, 34

Henry Maurice (galliot) 56-59, 61, 62, 82-85, 88, 90

Hero (ship) 47-49, 90

Higginson (of Wheeler Higginson & Co.) 15, 16, 35, 36, 74, 88, 89

Hoheb, Abraham 25, 43

Howell 84

Howell, Capt. 70, 71

Howell, Samuel (Captain) 68, 70

Humphreys (of Hale and Humphreys) 39, 41-47, 51, 58, 64, 81, 89

Innes, George (Capt.) 39

Jane (ship) 60, 62-64, 76, 77, 81, 85, 89

Jaques, William 71

John (the barber) 39, 60, 65, 70, 74

Johnson, Capt. 64

Johnson, Geo. (Capt.) 66

Jones, William 64

Koninglyken Keyser (brig) 1, 38, 61, 76, 77

LeGeux(?) 32

Lindo, Ephm. 68

Lisle 61

Lloyd 79, 90

Lloyd (of Brickwood & Lloyd) 82

Lloyd, A. 16, 18-21, 27, 34, 37, 40, 42, 49, 53, 64, 65, 89

Lloyd, A., & J. Brickwood 19

Lloyd, Ambrose 1-16, 20, 21, 25, 28, 29, 33, 34, 37, 39-42, 44-46,

48, 49, 51, 53-57, 59, 62-67, 70-73, 76, 79-89

Lloyd, Talwin, & Co. 17, 21, 25, 30-33, 45, 46, 53, 55, 63, 87- 89

Marie 56

May, Francis 5

McNeal, Capt. 56

McNeal, Archibald (Capt.) 58, 61

Mildred (brig) 85, 89

Mitchell & Gay 18, 19, 21, 37, 38, 81

Morris, James (Capt.) 66

Murdock, William 54, 58, 59

Myers (of Benjamin and Myers) 28, 29-32, 35, 36, 49, 55, 69, 88, 89

Myers, Myer 38, 55

Neilson 82

Neilson, Caspur (Capt.) 65

Palmer, Henry 1

Pas[s]more 82

Passmore, Capt. .64

Patten, Robert 58

Patterson, Capt. 79

Patterson, J. 79

Pedroso, Capt. 68

Peter (black servant) 40-43, 50-52

Plunket (of Stewart and Plunket) 81, 89

Plunkett, David 51

Protheroe (of Davis & Protheroe) 44-46, 76, 85

Providence (ship) 66

Providentia (ship) 78, 79, 80, 84

Reeve, Thomas 40, 55, 67, 68

Reeve, Thomas, & Co. 23-27, 37, 45, 49, 53, 80

Riddle, J. 86

Riddle, John 86

Roberts., Dl. 86

Robles & Waag 15-17, 20, 37, 43, 55, 89

Rohlap, Capt. 80

Rohlap, Daniel (Capt.) 73

Rohlap, Daniel Jockim(?) (Capt.) 73, 74

Royal Danish Company 85

Royal Danish Company of Copenhagen 75, 85

Russell, David 79

Russell, J. 76

J. & Co. [J. Russell & Co.?] 79

Russell, James 22, 44-46, 85

Russell, James (Jr.) 71

Ruth (schooner) 42, 90

S. J. 32

Salto, Capt. 55

Sarah Bernadus (ship) 67, 82, 84

Scroder, Blutter, Gradman & Co. 68

Searight - also spelled Seright

Searight (of Elliot & Searight) 36, 38

Seright, Joseph 26, 27, 38

Shubrick, R. 22, 25

Shubrick, Richd. 2, 21, 23, 24, 28, 39, 48, 62, 75, 88, 89

Smith, John 68

Smith, Wm. 59

Sparrow, Jeremiah 1, 36, 40-42, 52, 53, 64

Sparrow, John 5, 19, 32, 33, 36, 40-43, 47, 49, 52-54, 56, 89

Speedwell (brig) 70, 71, 83, 84

Stephenson, William 16, 60, 64

(see also Stevenson)

Stevenson, Cornelius 60, 72

Stevenson, William 60, 68, 82

(see also Stephenson)

Stevenson, William (Jr.) 68, 71, 74

Stewart and Plunket[t] 81, 89

Strettell, John 1, 64, 77, 78, 79, 80, 87, 89

Sugnan 82, 87

(see also Sugnin)

Sugnan, F., & Co. - see Sugnin

Sugnin (of Fabry & Sugnin) 69, 70

Sugnin, F., & Co. 17, 86

(also spelled Sugnan)

Sugnin, Fabry, & Compy. 41, 42, 55, 65, 71

Sugnin, F. 30-32, 40, 44, 48, 53, 55, 57

Sugnin,, Freddk. 33, 37, 40, 42

Sugnin, W. 21

Theresia (ship?) 74, 76, 77

Thwing, Nathaniel 60, 67

Tingey, 'Ihomas 26, 34, 38, 67

Tonkins? 77

Towers, Alexander 33, 41

Traille, Wm. 68

Truxtun, Capt. 22, 64

Truxtun, Thomas 21

Twing? [Thwing?] 46

Tyson, Daniel 43, 47-50, 56-59, 61, 62, 64-68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 79, 81-85, 88, 90

Vaux, George 77

Vaux, Geo. (Jr.) 1, 27, 39, 85, 89

Vaux, Rich. 70

Victoria 82, 84

Waag (of Robles & Waag) 15-17, 20, 37, 43, 55, 89

Waag, Moses 1, 22, 23

(also spelled Wagg)

Wagg, Moses - see Waag

West and Haxall 80, 90

West, William 1, 23, 38

Wheeler Higginson & Co. 15, 16, 35, 36, 74, 88, 89

Whitall, J. S. 78

Whitall, John S., and Company 49, 58, 65

White, Sarah 68, 72, 82

Wilkie, Capt. 62, 85

Wilkie, Thomas (Capt.) 60, 63, 64

Willing Maid (schooner) 41, 43, 65

Winning, Capt. 55

Winning, John (Capt.) 50, 51

Zantzinger, Adam 21