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:         F.P. Watrous & Co. (Deep River, Conn.)      

Title:               Business papers

Dates:             1859-1869, bulk dates: 1860-1862

Call No.:         Col. 712

Acc. No.:        03x154

Quantity:        165 items

Location:        18 B 2

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

The chief partner in the firm of F.P. Watrous & Co. was Fred Watrous. Earlier, he had been in partnership with Enos A. Hale, operating as Hale & Watrous. They seem to have run a general store in Deep River, Middlesex County, Connecticut.

 

Frederick Post Watrous was born in 1834, the son of Adaline Amanda Post and Amos Dickinson Watrous.  In the 1860 census, Fred was listed as a merchant.  He married Louisa Matilda Morgan (1833-1862), the daughter of Hester Doane and Roswell Morgan.  Fred Watrous was not located in 1870 or later censuses, but he died in Middlesex County, Conn., in 1900.  It is not know who was in partnership with him in F.P. Watrous & Co.  (In the 1850 census, father Amos Watrous was listed as a Baptist minister, but in 1860, he was listed as a merchant, living in Lyme, Conn.  In 1870, he was again listed as a clergyman in Deep River.  Fred had a brother also named Amos [1836-1897], and he was also a merchant.)

 

Enos Austin Hale (1835-1883) was the son of Abigail Spencer and John Hale.  In the 1860 census, he was listed as a merchant, but in 1870 and 1880 censuses, he was listed as living in New Haven and working as a post office clerk.  He married Caroline Brickell Spencer.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

A collection of bills and letters relating to the partnerships of Hale & Watrous and F.P. Watrous & Co. The bills are for such goods as textiles, umbrellas, sewing notions (braid, ribbon, buttons, etc.), dress accessories (combs, muffs, collars and cuffs), alcoholic beverages, nails, gloves, shirts, stationery, spices, and coffee. Also, there are advertising circulars for flour, boots and shoes, textiles, kerosene, hats, meat, beans, butter and cheese, carpets, "housekeeping hardware" (such as Britannia metal ware, brass candlesticks, gas stoves, sad irons, refrigerators, lamps, and other goods), and for the Park Hotel in New York City. As well, the collection includes promissory notes and receipts for payments.

 

However, letters make up the bulk of the collection. Most of the letters are from wholesalers requesting payment of their overdue bills. A few letters are from individuals explaining why they were not in a position to pay the money they owed to Watrous, usually because of illness. The hard times and inflation of the war-time economy are mentioned in a few letters and advertising circulars. A few items have illustrated billheads, mostly depicting buildings, trains, or ships.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The materials are arranged by type of material (bills, receipts, letters), and then 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 Peter L. Masi.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Hale, Enos A. (Enos Austin), 1835-1883.

                        Watrous, Fred P. (Frederick Post), 1834-1900.

 

Topics:

            General stores – Connecticut – Deep River.

            Textile fabrics – Prices – 19th century.

            Dry-goods – Prices – 19th century.

Food prices – 19th century.

Hardware – Prices – 19th century.

Commercial correspondence – Connecticut.

Merchants – Connecticut – Deep River.

Hotels – New York (State) – New York.

Flour.

Billheads.

Receipts.

Invoices.

Price lists.

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 18 B 2

 

 

All accession numbers begin with 03x154.

 

 

Box 1:

 

Folder 1: Bills

[note: a few bills are filed with correspondence]

 

.1         to Hale & Watrous from David S. Williams, New York, July 18, 1859, for caps, hats, umbrella; with added note about sizes of hats;

                        Printed billhead: straw goods, hats, caps, furs, umbrellas & parasols

 

.2         to Hale & Watrous from Hastings & Griswold, Hartford, Conn., July 30, 1859, for elastic braid, stay binding, buttons, bed lace, child’s hose, suspenders, etc.;

                        Printed billhead: Yankee notions, fancy goods, white goods, hosiery and umbrellas, yarns, wool hose and heavy gloves, jewelry, clocks, watches, etc.

 

.3         to Hale & Watrous from David S. Williams, New York, Sept. 9, 1859, for caps, hats;

                        Printed billhead: straw goods, hats, caps, furs, umbrellas & parasols

 

.4         to Hale & Watrous from Bee Hive, Hartford, Sept. 16, 1859, for various kinds of textiles;

                        Printed billhead: dry goods, carpets and paper hangings

 

.5         to Hale & Watrous from J. H. Brundage & Co., New York, Oct. 24, 1859, for fluid[?];

                        Printed billhead: rosins, alcohol, fluid, camphene, oil of tar, bright varnish, spirits turpentine, tar, pitch & turpentine, shoe & brushmakers pitch, coal tar and gum thus

 

.6         to Hale & Watrous from David S. Williams, New York, Sept. 9, 1859, for caps, hats, furs, muffs, collars, etc.;

                        Printed billhead: straw goods, hats, caps, furs, umbrellas & parasols [billhead glued to piece of blue paper]

 

.7         to Hale & Watrous from Spencer & Clark, New Haven, Feb. 10, 1860, for gin, rum, demijohns, cordial;

                        Printed billhead: wholesale druggists, burning fluid, camphene, medicines, cream tartar, … hair dyes, perfumery, toil articles, hair oils, ….

 

.8         to Hale & Watrous from S.L. Smith & Co., New Haven, Feb. 10, 1860, for prints, drill, etc. (specific mill names are given);

                        Printed billhead: dry goods, carpetings, oil cloths, and paper hangings, [etc.]

 

.9         to Hale & Watrous from Hastings & Griswold, Hartford, Conn., March 19, 1860, for hooks & eyes, hair pins, nets, linen thread, buttons, gloves, silk, pins, hose, sheeting, umbrellas, etc.

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: fancy goods, white goods, hosiery, yarns, umbrellas, jewelry, watches, clocks, &c.; illustrated with picture of store building (which was shared with LeRoy & Co. hardware)

 

.10       to Hale & Watrous from William Boardman & Sons, Hartford Conn., Dec. 1859-Arpil[?] 1860, for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead: tea, coffee, and spices, cream tartar, … agents for W. Baker & Co.’s chocolate, cocoa, &c., and Woodworth & Bunnel’s flavoring extracts

 

.11       to Hale & Watrous from Hastings & Griswold, Hartford, Conn., April 26, 1860, for crochet braid, suspenders, bound bone, velvet, etc.

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: fancy goods, white goods, hosiery, yarns, umbrellas, jewelry, watches, clocks, &c.; illustrated with picture of store building (which was shared with LeRoy & Co. hardware)

 

.12       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Ellis Brothers & Co., New York, May 30, 1860, for nails, sent by Hartford boat;

                        Printed billhead: hardware, cutlery, guns, &c., &c.

 

.13       to F.P. Watrous from Hastings & Griswold, Hartford, Conn., Sept. 26, 1860, for velvet, suspenders, ribbon, tape measure, gloves, hose, hooks & eyes, brushes, etc.

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: fancy goods, white goods, hosiery, yarns, umbrellas, jewelry, watches, clocks, &c.; illustrated with picture of store building (which was shared with LeRoy & Co. hardware)

 

.14       to F.P. Watrous from Clark, Howell & Rockwell, New York, Oct. 3, 1860, for cheese;

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: butter, cheese, lard, beans, peas, dried fruits, &c., pork, beef, smoked provisions, ground rock salt and fish; illustrated with picture of store of Conley, Kirk & Co. (Clark, Howell & Rockwell were successors to Conley & Kirk)

 

.15       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Hastings & Griswold, Hartford, Conn., Oct. 31, 1860, for ladies’ vests;

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: fancy goods, white goods, hosiery, yarns, umbrellas, jewelry, watches, clocks, &c.; illustrated with picture of store building (which was shared with LeRoy & Co. hardware)

 

.16       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Hastings & Griswold, Hartford, Conn., Oct. 31, 1860, for hood protectors, hoods, child’s coats, wool sleeves, white and mix shirts, knit jackets, velvet butts [buttons], chenille scarf[?], merino gloves;

                        With short letter: sending what they ordered through Mr. Barker, had to substitute the hoods;

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: fancy goods, white goods, hosiery, yarns, umbrellas, jewelry, watches, clocks, &c.; illustrated with picture of store building (which was shared with LeRoy & Co. hardware)

 

.17       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from J. H. Brundage & Co., New York, Nov. 2, 1860, for fluid, kerosene;

                        Printed billhead: rosins, alcohol, fluid, camphene, oil of tar, bright varnish, spirits turpentine, tar, pitch & turpentine, shoe & brushmakers pitch, coal tar and gum thus

 

.18       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Hastings & Griswold, Hartford, Conn., Dec. 18, 1860, for skating and other kinds of hoods, crochet briad, thread, comforters, men’s hose, ties, envelopes, etc.;

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: fancy goods, white goods, hosiery, yarns, umbrellas, jewelry, watches, clocks, &c.; illustrated with picture of store building (which was shared with LeRoy & Co. hardware)

 

.19a-b  to F.P. Watrous & Co., from William Boardman & Sons, Hartford Conn., Dec. 1859-Arpil[?] 1860, for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead: tea, coffee, and spices, cream tartar, … agents for W. Baker & Co.’s chocolate, cocoa, &c., and Woodworth & Bunnel’s flavoring extracts;

                        With envelope

 

.20       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Clark, Howell & Rockwell, New York, April 11, 1861, for salt;

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: butter, cheese, lard, beans, peas, dried fruits, &c., pork, beef, smoked provisions, ground rock salt and fish; illustrated with picture of store of Conley, Kirk & Co. (Clark, Howell & Rockwell were successors to Conley & Kirk)

 

.21       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Elihu Geer, Hartford, May 21, 1861, for envelopes and stationery;

                        With letter: at suggestion of his father, am sending some envelopes and stationery – father finds they sell well;

                        Printed billhead: dealer in envelopes, paper, pens, inks, inkstands, pencils, … stationery, portmonnaies, wallets, pocket books, bankers’ cases, purse, &c., backgammon boards, chessmen, dominoes, games, grace hoops, &c., &c., blank account books, memorandums, diaries, law blanks; also steam job, card and fancy printing

 

.22a-b  to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Ralph R. Foster, Hartford, Nov. 20, 1861, for pepper, mustard, cloves, cream of tartar, coffee, cassia;

                        Printed billhead: coffees, teas, spices, cream tartar, nugmegs, mace, etc.;

                        With envelope

 

.23       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Clark, Howell & Rockwell, New York, Dec. 2, 1861, for sacks of Ashtons salt;

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: butter, cheese, lard, beans, peas, dried fruits, &c., pork, beef, smoked provisions, ground rock salt and fish; illustrated with picture of store [the name of Conley, Kirk & Co. has now been removed from the store building)

 

.24       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Ralph R. Foster, Hartford, Dec. 12, 1861, for merchandise

 

.25       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Cunningham, Frost & Throckmortons, New York, May 29, 1862, for sheeting (Ocean, Agawam, Amoskeag, and another kind);

                        With request: please sign and return note;

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: foreign and American dry goods; with picture of store building on Worth Street

 

.26       to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Cunningham, Frost & Throckmortons, New York, May 29, 1862, for various kinds of fabrics: cambric, prints, dress goods, challis, jean, tweed, cassimere, denim, muslin, etc.; also table spreads, bosoms, hoop skirts;

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: foreign and American dry goods; with picture of store building on Worth Street

 

.27       to F.P. Watrous, from Stout & Bishop, New Haven, June 2, 1862, for merchandise;

                        Printed and illustrated billhead: grocers and commission merchants; illustrated with a sailing ship and a steamship

 

 

 

Folder 2: advertising circulars and price lists

 

.28       Union Mills, Middletown, Conn., July 1, 1859:

price list for flour, bolted meal, corn and oats, rye, oil meal, wheat feed, wheat, corn, oats, rye, buckwheat, etc.

 

.29       Wm. Smith Brown & Co., manufacturers and wholesale dealers in boots and shoes: printed letter and circular, New York, July 25, 1859:

 printed letter is about quality of company’s wares; the printed circular mentions rise in prices for materials and labor; also mentions machine pegging vs. hand pegging, a machine for sewing shoes, and metallic tips for toes of boots and shoes

 

.30       Croton Mills, Hecker & Brother, New York, July 25, 1859, no. 49;

                        Price list for flours and meals, buckwheat, farina, wheaten grits, hominy; with p.s. on back giving further information about source of wheat;

                        Illustrated with picture of mill building

 

.31       S.B. Chittenden & Co., importers of dress goods, hosiery & carpet, New York, Aug. 17, 1859;

                        Price list of sheetings; with note that “foreign dry goods … are very much depressed, and our prices now approach very closely to those of the panic year, 1857.”

 

.32       Umbrella and Parasol Warehouse, New York, Sept. 1, 1859:

                        Price list of umbrellas, with various kinds of covers, finishes, frames, handles

 

.33       L. and A. Underhill, New York, Sept. 22, 1959, printed letter: calling attention to their range of goods, including bonnet ribbons and silks, English crapes, tarlatans, ruches, edgings, cape lace, crown linings, bonnet wire, pins, French flowers, straw bonnets, and ostrich and fancy feathers

 

.34       Croton Mills, Hecker & Brother, New York, Sept. 29, 1859, no. 52;

                        Price list for flours and meals, buckwheat, farina, wheaten grits, hominy;

                        Illustrated with picture of mill building

 

.35       J.H. Brundage & Co.,  distillers of camphene, alcohol and burning fuild, and delaers in rosins and naval stores, New York, Oct. 24, 1859:

                        Notice that company sells products of Portland and Boston Kerosene Oil Companies;

 

.36       Benedict & Smith, New York, Jan. 1, 1860:

                        Printed notice of dissolution of copartnership of Benedict, Smith & Co., and formation of copartnership of Benedict & Smith, wholesale produce and provisions, including butter, cheese, flour and fish

 

.37a-b  letter to Hale & Watrous, from Bensel & Co., no place, [month illegible] 26, 1859:

                        Gives prices for flour;

                        With envelope  [see also .74a-b]

 

.38       Ives, Clarke & Co., New York, Jan. 16, 1860;

                        Printed letter: have opened this new business selling hats, caps, straw & millinery goods, ribbons, ruches & flowers, umbrellas, parasols, carpet bags, etc., [also furs]

 

.39       Haight & Emens, commission merchants, New York:

                        New York Price Current, Feb. 1, 1860, with prices for flour, butter, cheese, smoked meats, pork, beef, beans, dried fruits, eggs

 

.40       Cunningham, Frost & Throckmortons, New York, autumn trade 1861;

                        List of various kinds of textile fabrics carried, also white goods, Yankee notions, hosiery, &c.

 

.41       J. Conkling, carpets, oil cloths, &c., New York, Feb. 1, 1862;

                        Printed letter: prices are going up because of “unsettled state of the country,” so am not sending a price list, but does have a stock of English tapestry, Scotch hemps, American wools anc cotton chains, oil cloths, rugs, shades, etc.

 

.42       Halsted & Stiles, New York, February 1862;

                        Advertisement for cottonades and cassimeres (prices of these are rising), and cloths, vestings, and other goods for men’s wear

 

.43       Goodrich & Dix, hart, cap, fur and straw-goods warehouse, Hartford, 186-;

                        Printed letter: able to sell for as low as New York and Boston merchants; also sell umbrellas

 

.44       Windle & Co., New Yorki, no date;

                        “new goods for spring trade at wholesale to dealers in housekeeping hardware, with long list of goods offered, but no prices; good include ice cream freezers, bathing apparatus, silver soap, crimping and goffering machines, picnic baskets, gas tapers and holders, table mats, mess chests for army use, English earthen preserve jars, etc., etc.

 

.45       Park Hotel, P. Wight, proprietor, New York, no date;

                        Printed and illustrated circular: hotel recently renovated and has reopened; “The Servants (colored) are orderly and attentive, ….”

                        Illustrated with view of hotel, at corner of Nassau and Beekman Streets

 

 

 

Folder 3: receipts, promissory notes, envelopes

 

.46       receipt: John Hale & Son, Deep River, June 5, 1858, received liniment, heave cure, green ointment, and condition powders from A.C. Grant & Co., of Albany, N.Y.;

                        Printed form of Grant & Co.

 

.47       receipt: Hale & Watrous, Deep River, Aug. 3, 1859, received  box of Pocahontas Cigars from Lee & Dean, dealers in cigars, tobacco and snuff, Hartford;

                        Printed form of Lee & Deane

 

.48       receipt: Hale & Watrous, Deep River, Oct. 1, 1859, received  box of chewing tobacco from J.W. Loomis, dealer in cigars and, tobacco, Suffield, Conn.;

                        Printed form of Loomis

 

.49       receipt: Hale & Watrous, Deep River, Oct. 22, 1859, paid the publishers of the N.Y. Times for a three month subscription;

                        Printed form of the New York Times

 

.50       sight draft: between Spencer & Clark, New Haven, March 13, 1860, and Hale and Watrous; with endorsements on back;

                        Printed and illustrated form; illustrated with two blacksmiths hammering something on an anvil

 

.51       receipt: Hale & Watrous paid Stone, Starr & Co., New York, March 30, 1860;

                        Printed form of Stone, Starr & Co.

 

.52       receipt: Hale & Watrous, Deep River, April 4, 1860, received  Andersons tobacco from Lee & Dean, dealers in cigars, tobacco and snuff, Hartford;

                        Printed form of Lee & Deane

 

.53       promissory note: F.P. Watrous & Co., April 10, 1860, Hartford, promised to pay I. Hills & Sons, at the Deep River Bank;

                        Printed form, illustrated with a sailing ship

 

.54       check, payable to cashier of Deep River Bank, sent to Hale & Watrous by D.S. Milliand[?], New York, June 20, 1860;

                        Printed form, illustrated with two women harvesting wheat and a pineapple

 

.55       receipt: Hale & Watrous, Deep River, July 23, 1860, paid the publishers of the N.Y. Times for a year’s subscription;

                        Printed form of the New York Times

 

.56       promissory note: not signed, Deep River, Sept. 27, 1860, promised to pay M.E.[?] Bushnell Co.;

                        Printed form, illustrated with men herding cattle, with hay wagon and covered wagon beyond them

 

.57       receipt: F.P. Watrous & Co., Deep River, Dec. 6, 1860, received Byrons cigars from Lee & Dean, dealers in cigars, tobacco and snuff, Hartford;

                        Printed form of Lee & Deane

 

.58       promissory note: not signed, New York, June 1, 1861, promised to pay Lewis, Chatterton & Co., at the Deep River Bank,

                        Printed form, illustrated with an eagle and other decoration

 

.59       promissory note: C.[?] Southworth, Deep River, Aug. 1, 1861, promised to pay F.P. Watrous & Co. at the Saybrook Bank;

                        Printed form, with three illustrations, one of deer in forest, another of two dogs in field, and the third of a dog running

 

.60       promissory note: F.P. Watrous & Co., Deep River, Aug. 5, 1861, promised to pay Jabez Southworth, at the Metropolitan Bank of New York;

                        Printed form, with two illustrations, one of deer in forest, another of two dogs in field, and the third of a dog running

 

.61       receipt: F.P. Watrous & Co., Deep River, Aug. 8, 1861, received boxes of Le Lognet[?], from Ephraim Potter, manufacturer and dealer in cigars and cut, chewing and smoking tobacco;

                        On printed form of Potter

 

.62       promissory note: F.P. Watrous, Deep River, Sept. 2, 1861, promised to pay Jabez Southworth, at the Metropolitan Bank, N. York;

                        Printed form, with two illustrations, one of deer in forest, another of two dogs in field, and the third of a dog running

 

.63       receipt: F.P. Watrous & Co., Deep River, Oct. 10, 1861, received cigars from Lee & Dean, dealers in cigars, tobacco and snuff, Hartford;

                        Printed form of Lee & Deane

 

.64       promissory note: F.P. Watrous, Deep River, Dec. 2, 1861, promised to pay Jabez Southworth, at the Metropolitan [Bank of] N. York;

                        Printed form, with two illustrations, one of deer in forest, another of two dogs in field, and the third of a dog running

 

.65       receipt: F.P. Watrous, Deep River, paid New Haven, New London & Stonington R.R. Co., West Brook, Dec. 25, 1861, for transportation of boxes of soapl

                        Printed form of railroad, illustrated with a small train and decorative borders

 

.66       receipt: F.P. Watrous paid Elihu Geer, Hartford, 1861, for two volumes of Hardee’s Tactics; with added note: Geer sends a Hartford directory;

                        Printed and illustrated form: sailor looks through spy glass at sailing ships; above him is a printing press out in a field

 

.67       promissory note: F.P. Watrous & Co., Deep River, Feb. 17, 1862, promised to pay Jabez Southworth, at the Deep River Bank;

                        Printed form, with illustration of an eagle above an American shield; form printed by Elihu Geer

 

.68       promissory note: F.P. Watrous & Co., Deep River, March 27, 1862, promised to pay Wm. Boardman & Sons, at the Deep River Bank;

                        Printed form, with illustration of an eagle above an American shield; form printed by Elihu Geer

 

.69       receipt: E.A. Sawyer consigned a parcel to Adams Express Company, Saybrook, May 10, 1862; package is marked Burnham & Scott, Boson, Mass.;

                        Printed form

 

.70       receipt: F.P. Watrous paid Steamer City of Hartford, Hartford, July [?], 1862, for freight on tobacco, sent from Hartford;

                        Printed form for Hartford and New York Steamboat Co., illustrated with a steamboat

 

.71a-m envelopes addressed to F.P. Watrous, Hale & Watrous, or F.P. Watrous & Co., with postmarks from New York, Hartford, and New Haven, 1860-1861, most with postage stamps; .71m is embossed with address of Stone, Starr, & Co., New York

 

 

 

Folder 4: letters, 1859

 

.72       to E.A. Hale, from D. Ba[illegible], Sweeny’s Hotel, New York, July 18, 1859: the pin [pen was probably meant] alluded to in his letter has not been found;

                        On printed letterhead, illustrated with picture of the hotel

 

.73a-b  to Hale & Watrous, from N.C. Brakenridge, per Geo. R. Ransom, Norwich, Oct. 5, 1859: the horse for sale is not heavy enough for his purpose; with envelope

 

.74a-b  to Hale & Watrous, from Bensel & Co., New York, Oct. 5, 1859: check received; gives price for “Model Steam” [flour], thinks its Genesee flour is superior to Croton Mills; with envelope

 

.75a-b  to Friend Fred [Watrous], Deep River, from Enos A. H. [Hale], Guilford, Oct. 19, 1859: sorry has not been able to return, but will be there by noon tomorrow; suggests get Jumel[?] or David to help if needs it; with envelope

 

.76a-b  to Hale & Watrous, Deep River, from Jerome & Redfield, Hartford, Oct. 26, 1859: about an account; with envelope

 

.77a-b  to Hale & Watrous, Deep River, from Robt. B. Blauvelt, of Stone, Starr & Co., New York, Nov. 12, 1859: please call the next time you are in town – am always receiving new goods; with envelop

 

.78a-b  to Hale & Watrous, Deep River, from C.H. Smith & Co., Hartford, Dec. 1, 1859: please pay your bill

 

 

 

Folder 5: letters, 1860

 

.79a-c  to Hale & Watrous from J.H. Brundage & Co., New York, Jan. 2, 1860: printed letter (.79a): statement enclosed; monthly statement (.79b); and envelope (.79c);

                        Letter and statement on old stationery of McCready, Mott & Brundage, with old firm name crossed out and J.H. Brundage & Co. substituted; envelope printed with J.H. Brundage & Co., camphene, alcohol, burning fluid, & naval stores

 

[.80 – number not used]

 

.81a-b  to Hale & Watrous from Bensel & Co., New York, Jan. 9, 1860: please pay bill; with envelope

 

.82a-b  to Hale & Watrous from Bensel & Co., New York, Jan. 12, 1860: please pay bill; with envelope

 

.83a-b  to Hale & Watrous from Foster & Co., Hartford, Feb. 6, 1860: please pay bill; with envelope

 

.84a-b  to Hale & Watrous from Hastings & Griswold, Hartford, Feb. 6, 1860: please pay bill; with envelope

 

.85a-b  to Hale & Watrous from Spencer & Clark, New Haven, Feb. 17, 1860: please pay bill; with envelope

 

.86a-b  to E. A. [Enos] Hale, from Geo. A. Read, New York, March 3, 1860: encloses payment; with postscript: “Let’s go down to French’s & roll a game.”; with envelope

 

.87a-b  to Hale & Watrous from Spencer & Clark, New Haven, March 13, 1860: have drawn on them at sight; am short this week and need money; with envelope

 

.88a-b  to Hale & Watrous, from Westervelt & Corwin, New York, March 29, 1860: enclose bill for molasses

 

.89a-b  to Hale & Watrous, from Isaac Hills & Sons, Hartford, April 5, 1860: please pay bill (for merchandise purchased Aug.-Dec. 1859) as we have bills to pay; with envelope

 

.90a-b  to Hale & Watrous, from Hastings & Griswold, Hartford, April 7, 1860: do not pay “any part of your indebtedness to us, except upon our written order”; with envelope

 

.91a-b  to Hale & Watrous, from Smith, Lesli[?] & Kine[illegible], New Haven, April 9, 1860: please sent your note to pay bill; with envelope

 

.92a-b  statement  from Ezra H. Parker, New Haven, Feb.-April 10, 1860, for merchandise; with envelope blind embossed Ezra H. Parker, jobber of dry goods, commission merchant, New Haven

 

.93a-b  to Hale & Watrous, from N. S. Lester, New London, April 11, 1860: plans to visit next week and hopes they will want boots and shoes

 

.94a-b  to Hale & Watrous, from Colburns & Fenn, Ansonia, April 14, 1860: please pay for bill of hoop skirts

 

.95a-b  to Hale & Watrous, Deep River, from Jerome & Redfield, Hartford, April 17, 1860: please pay bill (dated March 17, 1860); with envelope

 

.96       to Hale & Watrous, from Isaac Hills & Sons, Hartford, April 17, 1860: please pay bill – need the money

 

.97       to Hale & Watrous, from David S. Williams, New York, June 3, 1860: please pay bill;

                        Printed form letter

 

.98a-b  bill from J. E. Spencer, New Haven, June 10, 1860, to Hale & Watrous: for jewelry; with envelope

 

.99a-b  letter to Watrous from J. Edwin Spencer, New Haven, Jun 16, 1860: explanation of the bill in .98a; with envelope addressed to Hale & Watrous

 

.100     to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Ellis Brothers & Co., New York, June[?] 20, 1860: check received;

                        Printed letterhead: illustrated with an anvil

 

.101a-b            to Hale & Watrous, from Baldwin, Studwell & Fisher, New York, July 1, 1860; statement of account, with request that it be paid; with envelope;

                        Printed form

 

.102a-b            to F.P. Watrous & Co., from A.T. Stewart & Co., New York, July 13, 1860: have sent goods ordered, with invoice for them; with envelope;

                        Printed letterhead

 

.103a-b            to Hale & Watrous, from Burt Gardner & Co., Hartford, July 19, 1860: please pay bill; send it to Chas. C. Burt; with envelope;

 

.104a-b            to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Bensel & Co., New York, July 28, 1860: please pay bill; with envelope, embossed Bensel & Co., Flour Merchants, New York;

 

.105a-b            to F. P. Watrous, from Enos [A. Hale], Guilford, July 30, 1860: please take Godey’s Ladys Book to Loomis so he can mail it; had hoped to come back for it but is not able to; with envelope

 

.106a-b            to Watrous, from Canfield & Spencer, New Haven, July 31, 1860: please return two of something and pay bill to close account; with envelope

 

.107     to Watrous from Robert B. Blauvelt, of Stone, Starr & Co., New York, Aug. 8, 1860: would like to sell him some goods; have cheapest black silk in the city

 

.108a-b            to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Bensel & Co., New York, Aug. 8, 1860: check received, but more about paying bill; regret that he had trouble with company’s flour; includes some prices for flour; with envelope;

 

.109a-b            to Hale & Watrous, from Baldwin, Studwell & Fisher, New York, Aug. 11, 1860; sent draft for collection; solicits more business: “we sell low in price & good in quality”; with envelope;

                        Printed form

 

.110a-b            to E. A. Hale & F. P. Watrous, from Canfield & Spencer, New Haven, Aug. 22, 1860: payment received; with envelope addressed to F. P. Watrous

 

.111a-b            to F.P. Watrous & Co., from Spencer & Clark, New Haven, Aug. 30, 1860: explains differences in statements; please pay bill; with envelope

 

.112a-b            to Hale & Watrous, from D. Morgan & Co., Hartford, Conn., Sept. 12, 1860: please pay bill, for sugar; with envelope;

                        Printed letterhead: grocers and commission merchants

 

.113a-b            to Hale & Watrous, from Spencer & Clark, New Haven, Sept. 15, 1860: please pay bill – need the money; with envelope

 

 

 

Folder 6: letters, 1861

 – all addressed to F.P. Watrous & Co., unless otherwise noted

 

.114     from D.D. Ives of Ives, Clarke & Co., New York, Feb. 13, 1861: check received; hope to sell you new goods this year;

                        Printed letterhead

 

.115     from Stan[?] Runkett[?] & Co., Hartford, March 18, 1861: check received

 

.116     from Clark & Carrier[?], New Haven, April 5, 1861: please pay bill – need the money;

 

.117     from Stone, Starr & Co., New York, May 28, 1861: please pay bill

 

.118     from Lewis, Chatterton & Co., New York, May 31, 1861: “during these hard times we must do all we can to help one another”; about paying account with a note;

 

.119     from Wm. Boardman & Sons, Hartford, June 4, 1861: please send note to pay account;

 

.120a-b            From N. S. Lester, New London, June 11, 1861: please send a check, or at least a note, to pay bill – need money; with envelope

 

.121a-b            promissory note: Watrous & Co., Deep River,July 8, 1861, promised to pay S. Bushnell & Co.; [on printed form, illustrated with dear in a forest and a running dog;

                        Note attached to notarized copy of said note, with statement that the payment of the note was refused, notarized by Gideon Parker, Saybrook, Nov. 11, 1861

 

.122     to F.P. Watrous, from Canfield and Spencer, New Haven, July 14, 1861: please pay bill

 

.123a-b            to F.P. Watrous, from Abra Gamble, Green Point, Sept. 16, 1861: please renew note; with envelope

 

.124a-b            to F.P. Watrous, from Spencer Read, Whitneyville, [Cpnn.], Dec. 10, 1861: explaining when plans to pay bill, and hasn’t paid anyone else, either; did buy a pig for his family, but otherwise has trimmed expenses

 

.125     from R. R. Foster, Hartford, Dec. 11, 1861: encloses account and a note to be signed and returned; short of cash

 

.126a-b            from I. Hills & Sons, Hartford, Dec. 17, 1861: check enclosed: sign and return; with envelope

 

.127     from U. Sallman[?], New York, Dec. 17, 1861: empty barrel received; “I take back my empty packages delivered on my walk, the usual custom of the trade”

 

.128a-b            from R. R. Foster, Hartford, Dec. 17, 1861: please sign and return note; with envelope

 

.129a-b            statement from George Bliss & Co., New York, Dec. 19, 1861: with short message about having drawn on sight; with envelope embossed: George Bliss & Co., New York;

                        Printed form

 

.130a-c            from Ives, Clark & Co., New York, Dec. 20, 1861: Watrous & Co. account is two months overdue; please return enclosed note; with envelope;

                        Also statement for account (printed form);

                        Printed letterhead

 

.131a-c            from Gideon Parker, notary public, Deep River, Conn., Dec. 21, 1861: two notices that promissory notes have been protested for non-payment, one from Abraham Gamble, and the other from James L. Lord, agent for Lord’s Factory; with envelope

 

.132a-b            from C.Y.[?]  Smith & Co., Hartford, Dec. 25, 1861: about Mr. Lord’s note which has not been paid [see .131b] – please send some form of payment; with envelope

 

.133a-b            to F.P. Watrous, from Elihu Geer, Hartford, Dec. 25, 1861: Mrs. Gates owes Geer rent money, and she is to move out; and her things taken to husband’s parents’ house; with envelope;

                        Printed letterhead: Harford Job, Card and Book Printing Establishment; illustrated with view of a college [possibly Trinity College, Hartford]

 

.134a-b            to F.P. Watrous, from Elihu Geer, Hartford, Dec. 31, 1861: Mrs. Gates grateful for allowance made her; man in Hadlyme interested in buying store has withdrawn offer; mentions unsettled affairs because of imbroglio with England and prostration of business; with envelope;

                        Printed letterhead: Harford Job, Card and Book Printing Establishment; illustrated with view of a college [possibly Trinity College, Hartford]

 

 

Folder 7: letters, 1862, 1869, and no date

– all letters are addressed to F.P. Watrous & Co., unless otherwise noted

 

.135a-b            from L. L. Bishop, New Haven, Jan. 1, 1862: please send payment; with envelope;

                        On patriotic stationery: U.S. flag, and the statement “The Constitution and the Union must and shall be preserved”

 

.136a-b            from C. Tyler, New York, Jan. 2, 1862: expects a payment soon;

                        With envelope, embossed: Christopher Tyler, commission merchant and manufacturer of oils & candles, N.Y.

 

.137a-b            to Watrous, from C. Bogart, Chester, Conn., Jan. 4, 1862: doesn’t have money to pay bill, and trying coercion will not help; with envelope

 

.138a-b            from L. L. Bishop, New Haven, Jan. 1, 1862: about orders, mentions Mr. Stannard; with envelope;

 

.139a-b            from Edwin I. Butler, New York, Jan. 8, 1862: “we buy goosd of Mr. A.C. Southworth, and his order on us is good …”; with envelope

 

.140a-b            statement from Bushnell & Co., New Haven, Jan. 11, 1862: with request to return note; with envelope

 

.141a-b            to Watrous, from A. Gambel, Green Point, Jan. 13, 1862: unable to pay note this winter; has been ill; with envelope

 

.142a-b            from Foster & Co., Hartford, Jan. 15, 1862: please send check; with envelope

 

.143a-b            from L. Roberts & Co., New York, Jan. 21, 1862: about an unpaid bill for flour; with envelope;

                        Printed letterhead: commission merchants

 

.144a-b            from George Bliss & Co., New York, Jan. 22, 1862: short message about having drawn on sight; with envelope;

                        Printed form

 

.145a-b            from S. Denisen S[illegible], Chester, Conn., Jan. 25, 1862: encloses a note which he wants the company to get discounted; with envelope

 

.145c-d            to Watrous, from L. L. Bishop, New Haven, Jan. 28, 1862: about a credit from A. C. Southworth; with envelope

 

.146a-b            from Wm. Boardman, Hartford, Feb. 3, 1862: drawing on the company for a payment; with envelope

 

.147a-b            statement from George Bliss & Co., New York, Feb. 3, 1862: with short message about having drawn on sight; with envelope embossed: George Bliss & Co., New York;

                        Printed form

 

.148a-b            from Foster & Co., Hartford, Feb. 4, 1862: not satisfied with delay in paying bill; if don’t pay something soon, will turn account over to an attorney; with envelope

 

.149a-b            from Wm. Boardman & Sons, Hartford, Feb. 6, 1862: have drawn on the company [gives details]; with envelope

 

.150a-b            from Albert M. Sizer, Madison, Conn., Feb. 6, 1862: chastises Watrous for distressing his family over his unpaid bill; times are hard and is unable to pay; when returns to Chester from his peddling trip, will either pay him or delivery his goods to him; has been ill

 

.151a-b            from C. Tyler, New York, Feb. 7, 1862: about Watrous & Co. account;

                        With envelope, embossed: Christopher Tyler, commission merchant and manufacturer of oils & candles, N.Y.

 

,152a-b            from George Bliss & Co., New York, Feb. 10, 1862: company’s check has been protested; if don’t pay up at once, will attach its stock;

with envelope embossed: George Bliss & Co., New York

 

.153a-b            from C. Tyler, New York, Feb. 12, 1862: about Watrous & Co. account and returning barrels;

                        With envelope, embossed: Christopher Tyler, commission merchant and manufacturer of oils & candles, N.Y.

 

.153c-d            to Watrous from George Bliss & Co., New York, Feb. 17, 1862: received;

with envelope embossed: George Bliss & Co., New York;

printed form letter

 

.154a-b            from C.I.[?] Smith & Co., Hartford, Feb. 18, 1862: about protested note of Mr. Lord; with envelope

 

.155a-b            from Baldwin, Studwell & Fisher, New York, May 10, 1862; statement, and short message: please pay bill; with envelope;

                        Printed form

 

.156a-b            to Watrous, from Cowles Gridley & Co., Hartford, May 17, 1862: have received order for soap and candles but not yet able to fill it – got behind because of flood; with envelope

 

.157a-b            from Foster & Co., Hartford, May 29, 1862: am tired of waiting for payment – do it now; with envelope

 

.158a-b            from John Hale, Guilford, June 12, 1862: how many unsold bottles of [probably patent medicines] remain; if many of the wild cherry, perhaps those need to be returned to proprietor; with envelope

 

.159a-b            from How & Whitaker, New York, June 30, 1862: please pay bills, need the money;

with envelope, stamped or printed with How & Whitaker, wholesale dealers in boots, shoes & [something else], New York

 

.160     from E. H. Parker, New Haven, June 15, 1869: note that was sent left out a charge, so sends a corrected note for company to sign and return

 

.161     to Watrous from C. S. Gladwin, East Haddam, Conn., Sept. 24, 1869: about settling accounts with Mrs. Emmons with a note from Watrous’ father;

                        Printed letterhead: Law and Collection Office, J. T. Clarke and C. S. Gladwin, [etc.]

 

.162a-b            to Hale & Watrous, from Bensel & Co., New York, Nov. 29, [year unclear]: please pay bill; with envelope

 

.163a-b            from Roger[?] & Raymond, New York, Feb. 18, no year: note against Lor’s factory has not been paid; with envelope