The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Taylor, Benjamin, 1799-1890
Title: Receipts
Dates: 1847-1856, bulk dates: 1849,
1852, 1855
Call No.: Col. 713
Acc. No.: 03x147
Quantity: 60 items (1 folder)
Location: 34 J 4
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Benjamin Taylor and his son Charles Taylor were
store keepers in Glastonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut.
Benjamin was born in 1799, the son of Sarah
Pemberton and Samuel Edwin Taylor. He
married Mary Ann Hale (1805-1895), and they had a number of children. Their eldest was son Charles, born in 1825. Charles married Harriet J. Lee Corbit. Benjamin died in 1890 and Charles in 1895. More biographical information about these men
is filed with the collection.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
A collection of receipts for goods purchased by
Benjamin Taylor and Charles Taylor from merchants in Hartford,
Connecticut. Among the items they
purchased were books (Bibles, textbooks, and atlases), bonnet boards, textile
fabrics and sewing supplies, candles, umbrellas, knives and tools, drugs, hats,
needles and pins, glassware, tableware, oranges, shoes, screws, and coffee. Brand names are sometimes mentioned: Church’s
Best bed cords, and Buena Vista sheeting, to give two examples. All the bills have printed billheads, but
very few are illustrated.
ORGANIZATION
The bills 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 Peter L. Masi.
RELATED MATERIALS
Charles Taylor bought stationery from Elihu
Geer. Other bills from Elihu Geer, dated
later, are found in Col. 712.
Charles Taylor also bought goods from William
Boardman & Sons. Other bills from
them are found in Col. 712.
ACCESS POINTS
People: (additional author):
Taylor, Charles, 1825-1895.
Topics:
General stores - Connecticut - Glastonbury.
Books.
Candles.
Drugs - Prices.
Food prices – 19th century.
Glassware - Prices - 19th century.
Hats – Prices.
Merchants -
Connecticut - Hartford.
Shoes – Prices.
Tableware - Prices.
Textbooks -
United States - 19th century.
Textile fabrics -
Prices - 19th century.
Receipts.
Merchants.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 J
4
All accession numbers begin with 03x147.
All bills are from Hartford, unless otherwise
indicated.
Folder 1 of 1:
.1 from
H.S. Parson, June 13, 1847, to Benjamin Taylor, for Nat’l Preceptor;
Printed
billhead: bookseller, publisher, and stationer, [etc.]
.2 from
Howe, Mather & Co., January 26, 1849, to Benjamin Taylor: for batts;
Printed
billhead
.3 from C. Benton, February 6, 1849, to
Benjamin Taylor: for candles, with credit given for boxes;
Printed
billhead: soap and candle manufacturer
.4 from T. M. Allyn, February 9, 1849, to
Benjamin Taylor: for sheetings;
Printed
billhead
.5 from
C. Benton, February 27, 1849, to Benjamin Taylor: for candles;
Printed
billhead: soap and candle manufacturer
.6-.7 from H.S. Parson, March 6 and 12, 1840, to
Benjamin Taylor, for bonnet board; and for copies of Woodbridge’s Geography
& Atlas;
Printed
billhead: bookseller, publisher, and stationer, [etc.]
.8 from Howe, Mather & Co., March 23,
1849, to Benjamin Taylor: for prints, tweed, thread, gilt and lasting buttons;
Printed
billhead
.9 from Day, Griswold & Co., March 29,
1849, to Benjamin Taylor: for indigo and some other kind of stripe, umbrellas,
broadcloth;
Printed
billhead: dry goods commission merchants
.10 from T. M. Allyn, March 29, 1849, to
Benjamin Taylor: for Lawrence and Buena Vista sheetings;
Printed
billhead
.11 from Bragaw & Blake, April 5, 1849,
to Benjamin Taylor: for pocket knives, screws, knitting pins, etc.;
Printed
billhead: hardware and commission merchants
.12 from
C. Benton, April 5, 1849, to Benjamin Taylor: for candles;
Printed
billhead: soap and candle manufacturer
.13 from Lee & Butler, April 5, 1849, to
Benjamin Taylor: for nicwood[?], liquorice, and other goods;
Printed billhead:
druggists, dealers in white lead, linseed oil, window glass, glue, emery,
acids, dye stuffs, &c., &c.; manufacturers of coach, furniture and
Japan varnish
.14 from
H.S. Parson, April 13, 1849, to Benjamin Taylor: for copies of Intelligent
Readers;
Printed
billhead: bookseller, publisher, and stationer, [etc.]
.15 from Howe, Mather & Co., April 20,
1849, to Benjamin Taylor: for prints;
Printed
billhead
.16 from
Day, Griswold & Co., May 14, 1849, to Benjamin Taylor: hats and umbrellas;
Printed
billhead: dry goods commission merchants
.17 from Howe, Mather & Co., June 11,
1849, to Benjamin Taylor: for prints, Milford tick, Wadsworth sheeting;
Printed
billhead
.18 from F. Curtis & Co., June 25, 1849,
to Benjamin Taylor: for hooks & eyes, pins, needles, ivory combs, slate
pencils, etc.;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of silver plated and German silver spoons, … castor frames,
spectacles and tobacco boxes: - also dealers in … combs, … thimbles, scissors
and shears, … buttons, slate pencils, [and a long list of other goods]
.19-.20 from Howe, Mather & Co., June
29 and July 9, 1849, to Benjamin Taylor: for prints, canvas; r.r. sheeting,
State linen, thread, black taffeta;
Printed
billhead
.21 from T. M. Allyn, July 11, 1849, to
Benjamin Taylor: for satin jean;
Printed
billhead
.22 from Lee & Butler, July 16, 1849, to
Benjamin Taylor: for Clarkes matches, cream of tartar, Peruvian bark, camphor,
and lamp black;
Printed billhead:
druggists, dealers in white lead, linseed oil, turpentine, window glass, druggists’
glass ware, glue, emery, acids, dye stuffs, &c., manufacturers of coach,
furniture and Japan varnish; agents for Tower’s superior alcohol
.23 from Burrall Sage, July 23, 1849, to
Benjamin Taylor: for c.c. and col’d pitchers and something else;
Printed billhead: dealer
in china, glass and earthen ware, solar lamps, girandoles, and housekeeping
articles generally, Sign of the Large Pitcher;
On back: addressed to
Benjm. Taylor, So. Glastonbury
.24 from T. M. Allyn, August 14, 1849, to
Benjamin Taylor: for cass [cassimere] and cambric;
Printed
billhead
.25 from
Day, Owen & Co., June 5, 1851, to Benjamin Taylor: for sheetings;
Printed
billhead: wholesale commission merchants
.26 from Edwin Hunt, January 8, 1852, to
Benjamin Taylor: for Youth’s Cabinet, spelling books, and Snow’s pen[?];
Printed
billhead: books and stationery, [etc.], blank
books made to order …
.27 from Bull & Sage, January 30, 1852,
to Charles Taylor: for chambers, jugs, edge plates, salts, tumbrels, pitcher,
edge platter, flowing blue platter, nappies, teas, etc.;
Printed billhead:
dealers in china, glass and earthen ware, solar lamps, girandoles, and
housekeeping articles generally, Sign of the Large Pitcher;
On back: addressed to
Chas. Taylor, South Glastonbury, Ct.
.28 from F.A. Brown, February 1, 1852, to
Charles Taylor: for Rupell’s Prim. Reader, a ream of letter paper, and two
dozen writing books;
Printed billhead:
publisher, bookseller and stationer, [etc.], with note of dissolution of
partnership of Brown & Parsons
.29 from Way, Brothers & Co., February
11, 1852, to Benjamin Taylor: for hammers, needles, screws, ox balls;
Printed billhead:
hardware importers and commission merchants, [with a list of various kinds of
goods sold]
.30 from Allyn, Smith & Co., March 4,
1852, to Benjamin Taylor: for Lowell jean, overalls, mixed something, pongee
handkerchiefs, hair pins, and Maple Grove sheeting;
Printed
billhead: wholesale commission merchants
.31 from John S. Gray, March 24, 1852, to
Charles Taylor: for cards, cheese knife, shoe knives, spades, steel something,
and manure forks;
Printed and illustrated
billhead: hardware importer and commission merchant, … scales, hardware paper
and twine, rubber and leather belting, steam packing, &c.; illustrated with
picture of a scale from E. & T. Fairbanks & Co.
.32 from Way, Brothers & Co., April 3,
1852, to Mr. Taylor: butts and something else;
Printed billhead:
hardware importers and commission merchants, [with a list of various kinds of
goods sold]
.33 from Way, Brothers & Co., April 16,
1852, to Benjamin Taylor: for pocket knives, needles (Best Drilled Eye), bed
cords (Church’s Best);
Printed billhead:
hardware importers and commission merchants, [with a list of various kinds of
goods sold]
.34 from Allyn, Smith & Co., May 3, 1852,
to Mrs. Taylor: for cravats and twist;
Printed
billhead: wholesale commission merchants
.35 from Collins, Brothers, May 5, 1852, to
Benjamin Taylor, for black wadding and super Irish linen;
Printed
billhead: dry goods commission merchants
.36 from Talcott & Pendleton, May 10,
1852, to Charles Taylor, for a box of oranges;
Printed and illustrated
billhead: foreign and domestic fruits, nuts, woods and willow ware, [with list
of fruits and nuts], … soaps, … tobacco, … cocoa, [and a long list of other
goods, mostly food items, but also cigars and fire crackers]; with decorative
border, which includes a train
.37 from Allyn, Smith & Co., May 10,
1852, to Charles Taylor: for prints, hats, and ribbon;
Printed
billhead: wholesale commission merchants
.38 from Edwin Hunt, May 27, 1852, to Mr. Taylor:
for 4 dozen writing [books?], 3 sheets drawing [paper], and Barnes Revelation;
Printed
billhead: books and stationery, [etc.], blank
books made to order …
.39 from Way, Brothers & Co., June 9,
1852, to Mr. Taylor: for scythes, needles, and other goods;
Printed billhead:
hardware importers and commission merchants, [with a list of various kinds of
goods sold]
.40 from Isaac Hills & Son, June 10[?],
1852, to Benjamin Taylor, for men’s thick brogs [brogans];
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and wholesale and retail dealers in boots, shoes and leather;
shoe findings …; French calf skins; linings, bindings, thread, nails, pegs,
wax, &c. &c.
.41 from Way, Brothers & Co., June 29,
1852, to Benjamin Taylor: for scythes, rakes, and knives;
Printed billhead:
hardware importers and commission merchants, [with a list of various kinds of
goods sold]
.42 from Allyn, Smith & Co., Sept. 14,
1852, to Charles Taylor: for stripe, corset jean, pongee handkerchief, yarn,
half ream of paper;
Printed
billhead: wholesale commission merchants
.43 from Elihu Geer, October 2, 1852, to
Charles Taylor: for engraving plate and printing cards, and envelopes;
Printed and illustrated
billhead: stationery and printing, [etc.], with decorative flourishes
.44 from Edwin Hunt, Nov. 8, 1852, to Charles
Taylor: for Testaments, readers, Woodbridge Atlas, arithmetic books,
penholders;
Printed
billhead: books and stationery, [etc.], blank
books made to order …
.45 from Allyn, Smith & Co., Nov. 14,
1852, to Charles Taylor: for flannel, hook sets, thread, overalls, boot laces,
and something else;
Printed
billhead: wholesale commission merchants
.46 from Bolles & Sexton, Nov. 22, 1852,
to Charles Taylor; for agates [possibly buttons], pongee handkerchiefs, tobacco
boxes, harps, hooks & eyes, spool of silk [thread];
Printed billhead:
commission merchants, importers and dealers in staple and fancy goods
.47 from
C. Benton, Nov. 22, 1852, to Charles Taylor: for candles;
Printed
billhead: soap and candle manufacturer
.48 from
R. & F.H. Terry, Dec. 30, 1852, to Benjamin Taylor: for axes and curry
combs;
Printed billhead:
hardware, and commission merchants, [with a list of other goods];
Top
right corner is torn off; year taken from endorsement on back
.49 from Allyn, Smith & Co., January 10,
1855, to Charles Taylor: for wadding, Coats thread, and something else;
Printed
billhead: wholesale commission merchants
.50 from Collins, Brothers, January 10, 1855,
to Benjamin Taylor, for flannel and overalls;
Printed
billhead: dry goods commission merchants
.51 from
C. Benton, January 17, 1855, to Benjamin Taylor: for candles;
Printed
billhead: soap and candle manufacturer
.52 from William Boardman and Sons, January
25, 1855, to Charles Taylor, for pepper and Java coffee;
Printed billhead: …
coffee, pepper, cayenne, [other spices], cocoa, chocolate, rice flour, green
and roasted peanuts, &c., [with more information about coffee]
.53 from
C. Benton, April 10, 1855, to Charles Taylor: for candles;
Printed
billhead: soap and candle manufacturer
.54 from Allyn, Smith & Co., April 13,
1855, to Charles Taylor: for denim, Niagara and Lebanon sheetings, Merrimac,
nankeen, overalls;
Printed
billhead: wholesale commission merchants
.55-.56 from Bolles & Sexton, May 25 and
June 5, 1855, to Charles Taylor; for batts, white and mixed K.C., cotton and
embroidered lisle gloves, and something else; and for a bale of twine;
Printed billhead:
commission merchants, importers and dealers in staple and fancy goods
.57 from Spencer, White & Co., June 5,
1855, to Charles Taylor; for Massabesic denim;
Printed billhead
.58 from William Boardman and Sons, June 18,
1855, to Charles Taylor, for Java coffee;
Printed billhead: …
coffee, pepper, cayenne, [other spices], cocoa, chocolate, rice flour, green
and roasted peanuts, &c., [with more information about coffee]
.59 from
C. Benton, Nov. 9, 1855, to Benjamin Taylor: for candles;
Printed
billhead: soap and candle manufacturer
.60 from Bolles & Sexton, January 1,
1856, to Charles Taylor; for Italian silk, buttons, Coats thread, and something
else;
Printed billhead:
commission merchants, importers and dealers in staple and fancy goods