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: Graves, William, 1811-1877.
Title: Bills
and papers
Dates: 1820-1880.
Call No.: Col. 775
Acc. No.: 06x5
Quantity: 182 items
Location: 34 J 5
BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
Captain William Graves lived at 56 High Street, Newburyport, Massachusetts. He was the son of William (1785-1851) and Mary Pike Graves. After Mary Pike died, William Senior married her sister Susannah (died July 30, 1878), and they had three more children: Alexander, Edward, and Ellen. Both William Graves Senior and Junior were successful sea captains and ship owners; Alexander and Edward Graves were also captains.
William Graves, Jr.’s first wife died young and he then married a cousin Mary Pike. They had four children who lived to be adults: William (the third of that name, born 1850), Edmund P. (born 1856), Georgiana West (1852-1934; married Charles French Perry), and Annie Pike (1854-1934; married Leander Brown). Capt. Graves served as an alderman of Newburyport in 1854, 1856-1858, and 1863; he was mayor in 1866. He died in 1877, at which time he was treasurer of the Bartlett Steam Mills and president of the Newburyport Marine Society.
As a matter of interest, but of no relation to these papers, Georgiana West Graves and Charles French Perry had a son named William Graves Perry. He was one of the architects who helped to restore Colonial Williamsburg.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
A small collection of bills and a few other papers addressed principally to William Graves, Jr. The bills include charges for wallpaper and painting; house building, remodeling and repairs; some textile fabrics and articles of clothing; flowers (probably bulbs, although not so specified); gardening work; and some furniture, including a chestnut chamber set, a cottage chamber set, fancy chairs, a whatnot, a sofa, a center table, and other items. As well, there are bills for school books and the game “Authors”; repairs on a gun; a ramrod, powder, and shot; work on a cemetery plot; a coffin for Susannah Graves; photographs, and some household goods such as tumblers, spoons, and tea pots. Some bills are from the Netherlands and England.
The collection includes a few letters, mostly pertaining to business, although one discusses the arrangements for a fair at which were to be displayed fruits, vegetables, and ladies’ handiwork. Several letters addressed to Graves pertain to business of the city of Newburyport, such as the need for a new fire station, the shipping of edge stones to the city, and lists of trees planted throughout Newburyport (elms, maples, chestnuts, oaks, etc.). Some bills relate to a brush factory, of which Graves seems to have been owner or part owner. He may also have had an interest in the Improved Power Association; detailed bills for machinery, parts, and labor are addressed to this business. A few items were not addressed to Graves, and his relationship (if any) with the persons to whom the bills were addressed is not known. As well, the collection includes a detailed list of the cost of building a brick house in High Street. Presumably, this was William Graves’ residence at 56 High Street; he is first listed at this address in the 1853 city directory, although the bill indicates the house was built in 1844. Very few of the billheads are illustrated. The earliest bills, those from the 1820s, were addressed to the senior Captain William Graves, who died in 1851.
ORGANIZATION
The bills and letters are mostly in chronological order.
LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS
The materials are in English, with a few items in Dutch.
RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from N. David Scotti.
Transcriptions provided by Scott Dennis, a descendant of William Graves.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Graves family.
Topics:
Improved Power Association.
Furniture - Prices - 19th century.
Machinery.
Coffins - Prices.
Cemeteries - Massachusetts - Newburyport.
Dwellings - Costs.
Dwellings - Remodeling.
Fire departments - Massachusetts - Newburyport.
Firearms - Equipment and supplies - Prices.
Firearms - Maintenance and repair.
Gardening - Massachusetts - Newburyport.
House construction - Massachusetts - Newburyport.
House construction - Prices.
House furnishings - Prices - 19th century.
Trees - Massachusetts - Newburyport.
Wallpaper - Prices - 19th century.
Newburyport (Mass.)
Billheads.
Invoices.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 J 5
Note:
all accession numbers begin with 06x5
Folder 1: Bills, not dated, and 1820-1827,
1844: mostly pertaining to William Graves, Sr. (lived 1785-1751)
.1 memorandum book, no years. Notes about various things, such as purchases
made, fares to several places, etc.
Includes a diagram of some sort, perhaps a floor plan. Also includes measurements, probably of
lumber, for various rooms: parlor, sitting and dining rooms, front entry,
kitchen entry, kitchen chamber, middle entry.
.2 receipted
bill, William Graves paid Mamie Welch, for labor in garden, no date.
.3 receipted
bill, William Graves paid H. P. Macintosh
Capt Graves [Sr.] Newburyport Nov. 11 [no
year]
to
H. P. Macintosh, Dr
[?]
card[?] photographs of children
Recd Payment $4.00
H. P. Macintosh
.4 receipted bill, William Graves paid L.
P. Ingraham, Sept. 29, no year, for gr [green?] shades
.5 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Forbes Express, Nov.–Jan., no year, for bundle, chair, package
.6 receipted bill, William Graves paid
William H. Conant, Aug., no year, for sewing machine
.7 receipted bill, William Graves paid M.
G. Webber, for papering, painting, whitewashing, no date
.8 receipted bill, William Graves paid M.
O. Hall, for rolls of wallpaper, no date
.9 receipted bill, estate of Mrs. Graves
paid C. H. Meader, for building flue, repairing
cistern, supplies, labor, for house on Milk Street, Newburyport; endorsed on
back: estate of Grandfather Graves, Dec., no year
.10 receipted bill, William Graves paid Jacob
H. Young, “coach Indian Hill, 1 seat from School,” October, year torn off
.11 receipted bill, William Graves paid Alex
Graves for curtain stuff and fixtures, silk, trimmings, and something
else. The items were apparently
purchased in Liverpool (“Lpool” is mentioned on
back); charges are listed in pounds, shillings, and pence.
.12 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Benjamin Stickney, for textiles, Newburyport, July 6, 1820. Receipt signed by Abrm. Toppan.
.13 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Francis B. Somerby, for textiles, Dec. 31, 1821. Receipt signed by Jos. Johnson.
.14 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Gilbert Gerrish, for making door steps, August 1823.
.15 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Samuel Morrill 3d, for digging and stoning well, a wall, fixing house pump,
etc. Jan. 26, 1826, but work may have
been done in Oct. 1824.
.16 receipted
bill, William Graves paid Jno. Rogers.
Capt Wm Graves [Sr.] Bot
of Jno Rogers
my
dog Sancho————3.00
Newburyport
Oct. 24, 1827
Recd Pay
Jno
Rogers
for
Jno Rogers jr.[?]
.17 receipted bill, William Graves paid
George Higgins, for gold beater’s hammer and anvil, and a box. Sept. 17, 1844.
Written on back: North
Dutch. Ship Thos. Perkins.
Folder 2: Bills, 1855-1861
.18 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Revere Copper Company, Nov. 5, 1855.
Printed bill head.
Boston Nov 5th 1855
Mr.
Wm Graves
Bought of REVERE COPPER COMPANY,
NO. 97 STATE, AND 16 DOANE STREET,
Manufacturers of Copper and Yellow Metal
Sheathing and Bolts; Braziers’ and Ingot Copper; Ship Fastenings, and
Composition Castings of every description.
11 Sheets 18oz YMetal [yellow metal]
2 “ 20”
“ 70 1/2 lbs 27 $19.03
Paid
Jno Revere
Agt RCCo
[Probably for sheathing the hull of one
of Graves’ ships. This company delivered
150,000 pounds of copper sheathing to the U.S. Navy. The signature on this receipt is that of Paul
Revere’s grandson, John Revere. For a
matching signature and a history of the company, see S. T. Snow, “Fifty years with the Revere Copper
Co.” (2008)]
.19 receipted bill, William Graves paid J. B.
& Wm. J. Creasey, for paint, varnish, brackets,
and labor, Jan.-Feb. 1857.
.20 receipted bill, William Graves paid Eben Rolfe, for repairing sink, table, towel stand, chair,
May 1857.
.21 receipted bill, William Graves paid John
Sumner, for lining range, iron spoons, oven pan, range grate, blacking and
cleaning, funnel and elbows, May 1858.
.22 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Stephen Bartlett, for building partition in cellar, making gate, patching roof,
labor, materials, May-Oct. 1858.
.23 receipted bill, William Graves paid N. C.
Greenough, Newburyport, for cleaning watch, work done Oct. 20, 1859, paid Jan.
6, 1860. Receipt signed by John P.
Adams.
.24 receipted
bill, William Graves paid Thos. C. Goodwin, for buckets, Dec. 1859.
.25 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Bartlett & Goodwin, for altering room, labor, materials, Jan. 21, 1860.
.26 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Bates, Goldthwait, & Co., Boston, for cocoa
matting, Feb. 11, 1860.
Printed billhead:
importers and dealers in carpeting, floor oil cloth, straw matting, bockings, rugs, door mats, stair rods, &c.
.27 receipted bill, William Graves paid Bartlett
& Goodwin for repairing fence and summerhouse, well curb and platform,
labor, materials, April-May 1860.
.28 receipted bill, William Graves paid Blake
& Davenport, Boston, June 19, 1860.
Printed letterhead.
FURNITURE, UPHOLSTERY AND
LOOKING-GLASS ESTABLISHMENT,
NOS.
12 TO 24 Cornhill, and 25 Washington Street.
BOSTON June 19th 1860
Mr. Wm. Graves, 56 High St
Newburyport
Bought of BLAKE &
DAVENPORT.
1 B.W. Rock. chair $5.00 1 B.W. Ottoman 4.50
9.50
1 Lounge 18.00 1
Oval Gilt Glass 15.00 33.00
1
Chestnut Chamber Set 50.00 1 B.W. Sideboard 23.00 73.00
1 Cottage “ “ 25.00 1 “ Spanish
Chair 9.00 34.00
1 B.W. Whatnot 15.00 2
Fancy Chairs 14.00 29.00
1 “ Sofa 26.00 3
B.W. Par. Chairs 12.75 38.75
1 “ Centre
Table 16.00 1 “ Extension Table 10.00 26.00
1 “ Lady’s
Chair 15.00 1 Hat Tree 7.00 22.00
41 Mats 13.67
$278.92
Less Mats 13.67
July 6. Recd
pay’t $265.25 Blake &
Davenport
Per
C.[?] Davenport
.29 receipted
bill, William Graves paid M. O. Hall, inkstand and ink, Jun 26, 1860.
.30 receipted
bill, Capt. Alexander Graves paid Geo. Noyes, July 3, 1861.
Newburyport July
3rd 1861
Capt A. Graves
To Geo Noyes Dr.
To rent of one Piano one
quarter
from April 3rd/61 to
date $10.00
Rec’d pay
Geo.
Noyes
.31 receipted bill, William Graves paid Jos.
Moulton, Newburyport, for buttons, knife gasket, pair of salts, mustard spoon,
tumblers, mugs, china plates; purchases made Jan.-Sept. 1860, payment maid Oct.
29, 1860.
.32 receipted bill, William Graves paid Geo.
Greenleaf, Newburyport, Oct. 16, 1860, for hyacinths, paper narcissus, tulips,
anemones, gladiolus.
.33 receipted bill, William Graves paid T. H.
& A. W Lord, for silk curtains, brass hooks, curtain fixtures, cord, fringe
and cord, screws, nails, excelsior; purchases made June-Aug. 1860, payment made
Nov. 12, 1860.
.34 receipted bill, William Graves paid Blake
& Davenport, Boston, for cornices, pins, brackets, July 24, 1860.
.35 receipted bill, William Graves paid A.D.
& C.W. Woods, for painting sitting room, hanging wallpaper; work done June
1861; paid Nov. 15, 1861.
.36 receipted bill, William Graves paid T.H.
& A.WQ. Lord, Newburyport, Feb. 23, 1861, for feathers, bolster, covering
chair, repairing chairs.
On printed billhead:
dealers in trunks, valises, carpet bags, cushions, curtains and fixtures,
shoe-maker’s tools, engine hose, hardware & upholstery goods. Decorated with picture of a trunk and carpet
bag.
.37 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Bartlett & Goodwin, for making curtain fixtures, spout for cesspool, house
repairs, hot bed, barn floor, labor, materials, arches on fence; work done Aug.
1860-April 1861.
.38 receipted bill, William Graves paid Geo.
W. Clark, for wallpaper and slate. June
4, 1861.
.39 receipted bill, Mrs. Graves paid Stephen
Bartlett for labor & stock for house, June 21, 1861.
.40 receipted bill, William Graves paid J. P.
Porter, for repairing store roof, Newburyport, March 20, 1862, but work done
Sept. 1861.
.41 receipted bill, Capt. A. Graves paid Geo.
Noyes, for rent for pianoforte, from June 3-Oct. 3, 1861.
.42 receipted bill, Widow Graves paid Asa
Davis, Newburyport, for digging vault, whitewashing, labor, Dec. 1860-May 30,
1861.
.43 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Joseph Moulton, for berry basket, tumblers, July –Sept. 1861.
.44 receipted bill, William Graves paid David
Foster, Newburyport, for textiles, bought in July and paid for Dec. 1, 1861.
Folder 3: Bills, 1862-1864
.45 receipted bill, Capt. A. Graves paid Geo.
Noyes, for rent for pianoforte, from Oct. 3, 1861-Jan. 3, 1862.
.46 receipted bill, William Graves paid Geo.
Greenleaf, for bread knives bought at auction, Oct. 1862.
.47 receipted bill, William Graves paid Joseph
Moulton, for eye glass, table mats, toilet set, plates, mugs, glass dish,
goblets, napkins, bread pan, bowls, flower pots, caster, basin, vases, napkin
rings, pin, etc., May 1862-April 1863.
.48 receipted bill, William Graves paid G. W.
Clark, for school supplies and other stationery items and books, Feb.-Oct.
1863.
[Note: in 1863, Graves would have
been buying school supplies for 4 children: William,
age 13; Georgianna, age 11; Annie, age 9; and Edmund, age 7.]
Capt Wm Graves
1863 To G. W. Clark Dr
Feb 20 To 1
1st Reader .25
Mch 18 “ 1
Game authors .38
31
“
Mucilage .17
Apr 9 “ Binding Music Book .75
“
Paper .25
May 21 “ 1 Set Prescotts
Phillip 6.00
[William
H. Prescott, History of the Reign of
Philip the Second, 3 volumes]
July 27 “ Music .50
“ 1 Bonars Hymns 1.00
[Horatius
Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope]
Aug 27 “ 1 Grammar . 62 Arith .25 .87
28 “
1 Slate & Pencil .45
29 “
1 Slate .37
“ 1 Gram Sch
Geography 1.00
“ 1 Worcesters
Speller .30
“ 1 C. S. Arithmetic .62
[probably
Common School Arithmetic; several
authors used this title for their works]
“ Paper,
Pencils & Holders .16
31 “
1 Pencil .08
Sept 5 “ Envelopes .17
7 “ 1 Woman Saviour in
Persia 1.00
[Woman and Her Saviour
in Persia, by a Returned Missionary (Thomas Laurie)]
8 “
2 Bibles 1.00
14 “
1 Progressive Speller .17
“ 1 Standard Speaker 1.50
“ 2 Writing Books .24
Oct 7 “
1 Colburns
.20 & 2 Readers .37 .57
[possibly
Warren Colburn, First Lessons in
Arithmetic (1863)]
15 “
1 Songs for School Room .17 $17.97
[Songs
for the School Room]
Rec’d Payment
G.
W. Clark
.49 receipted bill, William Graves paid WilliamH. Maine, Boston, for soapstone sink, soap dish,
shelf, etc., May 23, 1863.
Printed billhead:
Manufacturer of every description of soapstone work.
.50 receipted bill, William Graves paid Thos.
C. Goodwin, for well buckets and bails, June 19, 1863.
.51 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Samuel Dodge, for pans, spoons, dust ban, brush, strainer, cake pans, August
1863.
.52 receipted bill, William Graves paid A.
Wentworth & Co., Boston, Sept. 4, 1863, for chimney piece, frames and
registers.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and dealers in foreign and American marble.
.53 receipted bill, Alexander Graves paid
John Sumner, for second-hand Magee stove, and stove pipes, Sept. 29, 1863.
.54 receipted bill, William Graves paid John
R. Longfellow, for wallpaper, Oct. 1863.
.55 receipted bill, William Graves paid S.H.
Gregory & Co., Boston, Oct. 14, 1863, for wallpaper.
Printed billhead:
importers, manufacturers, wholesale and retail dealers in French and American
paper hangings.
.56 receipted bill, William Graves paid S.K.
Gilman, Newburyport, Oct. 24, 1863, for painting fence at cemetery.
.57 receipted
bill, William Graves paid Nathaniel W. Hurd, Nov. 2, 1863.
Recd
Newburyport Nov 2d 1863
from Wm
Graves Four hundred
dollars on a/c contract to build
addition to his house [at 56 High
Street]
$400 Nath. W Hurd
.58 receipted bill, William Graves paid Moody
Lunt, Newburyport, July-Dec. 1863, for plastering fireplace and ceiling,
setting chimney pieces and registers, cementing cellar, repairing boiler,
labor, materials, etc.
.59 receipted bill, William Graves paid S.H.
Gregory & Co., Boston, Oct. 14, 1863, for wallpaper.
Printed
billhead: importers, manufacturers, wholesale and retail dealers in French and
American paper hangings.
.60 receipted bill, William Graves paid GebS. Eggers, Amsterdam, for blankets [so endorsed on
back], Nov. 28, 1863.
The name T.M. Snow is
crossed out and Wm. Graves is substituted.
Printed billhead: bedden, dekens, spring- en andere matrassen, enz. In Dutch.
.61 receipted bill, William Graves paid
T.P.R. Schilling, Amsterdam, for clock, etc. [so endorsed on back], Dec. 11,
1863.
Printed
billhead: spiegels, pendules,
lampren, porcelein, cristal, glaswerk, gelakte en mahonyhoute goederen enz. In Dutch.
.62 receipted bill, William Graves paid L. van
Ameringen & Zoon, Amsterdam, for men’s clothing,
Dec. 1863.
On printed
billhead: tailors and drapers, in Dutch and English; illustrated with man’s
coat and trousers.
.63 receipted bill, William Graves paid Fz Bischofer, Amsterdam, for
gloves [so endorsed on back], Nov. 30, 1863.
Printed
billhead, in Dutch.
.64-.65 receipted bills, William Graves
paid Woollright & Co., Liverpool, for table
linens, doilies, Turkish towels, etc., Jan. 1864.
.66 receipted bill, William Graves paid R.
Anderson & Sons, Liverpool, for Brussels carpet and chintz tapestry, Jan.
12, 1864.
Printed billhead: Family
linen, carpet, damask & general furnishing warehouse. With one penny Internal Revenue stamp.
.67 receipted bill, William Graves paid P. L.
Mactaggart, Liverpool, for rug and wool shirts, Jan.
13, [1864].
Printed billhead:
Gentlemen’s Fashionable Outfitting & Tailoring Establishment. With picture of shop front and with one penny
Internal Revenue stamp.
.68 receipted bill, William Graves paid David
Kent & Son, Liverpool, for cotton hose, wool socks, etc., Jan. 13, 1864.
Printed billhead:
foreign & British laces, embroidery, cambric handkerchiefs, &c.,
hosiery and glove manufacturers, shirt makers.
With one penny Internal Revenue stamp.
.69 receipted bill, William Graves paid J.
& W. Jeffery & Co., Liverpool, for dress, fabric, trimming, Jan. 13,
1864.
Printed billhead: drapers,
silk mercers, outfitters, carpets, bedding, upholstery, etc.
.70a-b receipt attached to bill, William Graves paid
J. & W. Jeffery & Co., Liverpool, for boy’s suit and cloth, Jan. 13,
1864.
Printed billheads
(different from each other and different from that in .69): linen-drapers, silk
mercers, haberdashers and carpet warehousemen.
Receipt has picture of the store exterior.
.71 receipted bill, William Graves paid J.
Ravenscroft, for frock coat, Jan. 14, 1864.
Printed billhead: tailor
and trousers maker; also with Inland Revenue stamp.
.72 receipted bill, William Graves paid Moses
Merrill, for labor on carpets, repairs to bedsteads and chairs, varnishing and
graining dressing table, graining sink, Feb. –May 1864.
.73 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Lawrence, Wilde & Hull, Boston, for Turkish easy chair, March 1, 1864.
Printed billhead:
importers and manufacturers of drawing room, parlor and chamber furniture, etc.
.74 receipted bill, William Graves paid Ja.
B. Creasey, for painting house, wallpaper, graining
doors, materials, etc., Sept. 1863-May 1864.
.75 receipted bill, William Graves paid James
Moulton, Newburyport, for goblets, napkins, lamp, chimneys [probably for lamp],
stereoscope, Aug. 1864.
With Internal Reveune
stamp.
.76 receipted bill, William Graves paid J. B.
Creasey, for painting house, July 1864.
.77 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Jones, Son & Davies, Liverpool, for black beaver, Jan. 13, 1864.
Printed billhead: woolen
drapers & warehousemen.
.78 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Haley, Morse & Boyden, Boston, for rocker, side bracket, mat, Aug. 17,
1864.
Printed billhead:
furniture dealers.
.79 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Samuel Dodge, for mending wares, trunk, dipper, Dec. 1864.
.80 receipted bill, William Graves paid C.R.
Sargent, for nipples, shot, powder, ramrod, wads and wad cutter, pouch, pipe
book, solder, bird call, gun worm, caps, etc., also making and engraving 2 new
hammers, cleaning and repairing gun, key ring, Sept. 1864-July 1867.
Folder 4: Bills, 1865-1869
.81 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Daniel Young, Newburyport, for stove and range linings, cleaning furnace,
ladle, pipe for water closet, dripping pans, spoons, etc., June-Dec, 1865.
With internal revenue
stamp
.82 receipted bill, Edward Graves paid David
M. French, Newburyport, for curb stones for plot at Oak Hill Cemetery, turf,
Italian marble monument and inscription, etc., Oct. 1, 1865.
With internal revenue
stamp
.83 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Joseph Moulton, for chimneys, plates, tea pot stand, tumblers and goblets,
etc., No.v 1865-Sept. 1866.
.84 receipted
bill, William Graves paid E.S. Sweetser, Newburyport,
for canvas carpet, Feb. 26, 1866.
Printed billhead:
proprietor of the Liberty Street Carpet Ware House.
.85 receipted bill, William Graves paid N. W.
Hurd, Newburyport, for cedar posts, boards, window, hardware, lath, black
walnut lumber, labor, etc., March-Dec. 1865.
With internal revenue
stamp.
.86 receipted bill, William Graves paid N. A.
Moulton, Newburyport, for wallpaper, Nov.-Dec. 1865.
Printed billhead: dealer
in books, stationery, paper hangings, curtains.
.87 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Joseph Moulton, Newburyport, for buttons,k tea pot,
nappies, milk bowl, pitchers, kettle, fan, freezer, tumblers, tea kettle,
coffee pot, goblets, salt spoon, etc., also repairs to several items, including
a bracelet, Jan.-Sept. 1867.
Printed billhead:
importer of earthen and glass ware, cutlery, &c. Engraved by Edward Moulton.
With internal revenue
stamp.
.88 receipted bill, William Graves paid G. W.
Clark, for paper, ink, pens, autography book, family record, scrap book,
cardboard, school books, Wells Philosophy (Well’s
Natural Philosophy, by David Ames Wells), mucilage, etc., Jan.-June 1866.
.89 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Daniel Young, Newburyport, for faucet, cleaning furnace, scraper, poker,
repairs to range, etc., March-Dec. 1866.
With internal revenue
stamp.
.90 receipted bill, William Graves paid J. B.
Creasey, for painting and papering dining room [so
endorsed on back], 1866.
.91 receipted bill, William Graves paid James
Fogg, for setting tulips and trimming trees, March-April 1866.
.92 receipted bill, William Graves paid Eben Rolfe, for repairing sofa and stool, April 1866.
.93 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Gregory & Robinson, Boston, for wallpaper, April 4, 1866.
Printed billhead:
importers, jobbers, and retailers of French and American paper hangings.
.94 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Chandler & Co., Boston, for cloth, April 9, 1866.
.95-.96 receipted bills, William Graves
paid Geo. W. Berry & Co., Boston, for dining chairs, mats, bureau, May 19
and June 16, 1866.
Printed billheads:
manufacturers and wholesale dealers in walnut, chestnut, and painted chamber
furniture, etc.
The June bill has
internal revenue stamp.
.97 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Ireland & Trefethen, Newburyport, for bed and
stool, July 31, 1866.
Printed, illustrated
billhead: dealers in sofas, sofa beds, couches, dining, card & centre tables; illustrated with upholstered rocking chair
and a sofa.
.98 receipted bill, William Graves paid J. E.
Kimball, for whitewashing, July 14, 1866.
.99 receipted
bill, William Graves paid S. H. Rundlett, August
1866.
Capt
William Graves
to
S H
Rundlett Dr
1866
Aug 1st 1 load Furniture to Salisbury Beach 5.00
Cash
paid for Toll .50
24 1 Load Furniture from S Beach 5.00
Cash
paid for Toll .50
Paid
S.
H. Rundlett
.100 receipted bill, William Graves paid Weitzel [formerly Weitzel & Sheafe], Newburyport, for croquet set, Sept. 5, 1866.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of extension dining tables of all kinds.
.101 receipted bill, William Graves paid
Lawrence, Wilde & Hull, Boston, for book rack, Oct. 29, 1866.
Printed billhead:
importers, manufacturers of drawing room, parlor, chamber furniture, etc.
.102-.103 receipted bills, Lewis Greenleaf,
Broomfield St., paid Edward Kimball, Newburyport, for sewing boards and doing
millwork for Capt. W. Graves, Nov. 8, 1866.
The second bill (.103)
specifies that the work was done for Graves at Salisbury.
Printed billheads:
planning, sawing, jig sawing done to order.
.104 receipted bill, William Graves paid T.H.
& A.W. Lord, Newburyport, for trunk, repairs on sewing chair, cord, knobs,
excelsior, covering chairs with haircloth, shoe nails, etc., Feb.-Oct. 1867,
paid Dec. 26, 1867.
Printed, illustrated
billhead: dealers in trunks, valises, caret bags, cushions, etc., with picture
of trunk and carpet bag.
.105 receipted bill, William Graves paid E.S. Sweetser, Newburyport, for carpet, tacks, canvas, binding,
April 12, 1867.
Printed billhead: carpet
warehouse, woolen, canvass, and stair carpetings.
With revenue stamp.
.106 receipted bill, William Graves paid Geo. L.
Rogers, Newburyport, for sub-carpet felt, April 26, 1867.
.107 receipted bill, William Graves paid Geo. W.
Berry & Co., for wardrobe and mats, May 24, 1867.
Printed billhead:
walnut, chestnut, painted chamber furniture, refrigerators, ect.
With revenue stamp.
.108 receipted bill, William Graves paid J. M.
Winn, for balmorals, boots, slippers, mending, June-Dec. 1867.
.109 receipted bill, William Graves paid C. H. Meader, Newburyport, for whitewashing, Jan. 1, 1868.
.110 receipted bill, William Graves paid Daniel
Young, Newburyport, for repairs to furnace, cleaning sink, pipe in bathroom,
registers, fixing refrigerator, etc., Jan. 16, 1868.
With revenue stamp.
.111 receipted bill, William Graves paid N. A. Moulton,
Newburyport, for wallpaper, March-Sept., dated Nov. 7, 1868.
.112 receipted bill, William Graves paid R.
Hollings, Boston, for shades, March 31, 1868.
Printed billhead: gas
fixtures, chandeliers, brackets, etc.
.113 receipted bill, William Graves paid D. T. Woodwell, for tarpaper, screws, etc., April 1868-Jan. 1869.
.114 receipted bill, William Graves paid Eben Rolfe, for sofa repairs, work table, screen door,
piece of black walnut, May–June 1868.
.115 receipted bill, William Graves paid Jos. Moulton,
for sugar bowl and creamer, fruit dish, vase, pin, etc., May-June 1868.
With internal revenue
stamp.
.116 receipted bill, William Graves paid J. B. Creasey, for painting table, paint, varnish, labor, etc.,
May-Nov. 1868.
With internal revenue stamp.
.117 receipted bill, William Graves paid Currier
& Thurlow, for boards, millwork, fence posts, planks, nails, labor, etc.,
May-Sept. 1868.
With internal revenue
stamp.
.118 receipted bill, William Graves paid S. K.
Gilman, for painting fence at cemetery, June[?] 1868.
.119 receipted bill, William Graves paid Jos.
Moulton, for tumblers, goblets, table bell, set of studs, plates, class ring,
lamp, bush of Clytie, repairs to pin and buttons,
etc., July-Nov. 1868.
With internal revenue
stamp.
.120 receipted bill, William Graves paid Kimball
Perkins & Co., for lumber, July 1868.
.121 receipted bill, William Graves paid J. S. Bamford, for marble, Dec. 25, 1868.
.122 receipted bill, A. C. Titcomb
paid Mabie, Todd & Co., New York, for gold pencil for [?] Richardson, Aug.
5, 1868.
Endorsed on back: E.
Graves.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of gold pens, pencils, pen cases, tooth picks, &c.
With internal revenue
stamp.
.123 receipted bill, William Graves paid N. W.
Hurd, Newburyport, for repairing sled, Dec. 31, 1868.
.124 receipted
bill, Alexander Graves paid Geo. Noyes, Jan. 1, 1869.
Newburyport Jany 1, 1869
Capt A Graves To Geo. Noyes, Dr
To repairing varnishing, & tuning
one
melodeon $12.00
Rec’d
pay Geo. Noyes
.125 receipted bill, William Graves paid C.R.
Sargent, Newburyport, for shot, wads, work on and cleaning gun, caps, lever
pouch, etc., Jan. 1, 1869.
.126 receipted bill, William Graves paid Samuel
Dodge, for sad irons and stands, June 29, 1869.
Folder 5: Bills, 1871-1880
.127 receipted bill, Edward Graves paid D.B.
Vickery, Haverhill, for photo of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, Jan. 12, 1871.
Printed billhead:
portrait photographer.
.128 agreement, Charles [illegible] agreed to
take down what remained after a fire, including house chimney, for William
Graves, Newburyport, Jan. 21, 1876.
.129 receipted bill, William Graves paid Bayley & Perkins, Newburyport, for lumber and mill
work, May 6, 1876-Jan. 1, 1877.
.130 receipted bill, estate of William Graves
paid Geo. L. Jackman, Newburyport, for pipe, stove
covers, grate, zinc, cleaning furnace, etc., Jan. 26, 1877-Jan. 7, 1878.
.131 receipted bill, William Graves paid Geo. L.
Jackman, for cleaning stove and furnace, coffee pot,
faucet, lead pipe, etc., June 8-Oct. 4, bill dated April 26, 1877.
.132 receipted bill, William Graves paid Uriah Strayman, Newburyport, for labor on windows in brush
factory, July 1877. Signed by P.A. Memle.
.133 House on Rings Island in account with M.P.
Graves, Dec. 1877-Nov. 1, 1878, with further payments Nov. 1878-Jan. 1879. For paint, for N. Greeley collecting rents,
for services of R.L. Greenleaf, for coal, for rent. Signed by E. & O.E.
.134 receipted bill, estate of William Graves
paid J. Moulton, for basin, eye glass, lamp, vase, dishes, knives, china, etc.,
March 1876-April 1877.
.135 account
between Merrimac Brush Co. and Capt. William Graves, 1875-1877.
[page] 134 Merrimac Brush Co.
Capt.
William Graves
1875 To John N. Pike Dr.
Dec 17 For 1/2 advertisement
of sale of Factory 5.
1876
Jany 12 “ 1/2 Auctioneer’s services
2.50
Oct 2 “ 1/2 interest at Five Cents Savings 26.25
“ 1/2
City tax 8.37
1877
April 2 “ 1/2 int at Five Cents Savings 26.25
Sept 20 “ /2 City tax 6.40
Oct 1 “ 1/2 int at Five
Cents Savings 26.25 101.02
Cr.
1875
Dec. 20 By 1/2 of 1 ms.
rent 3.50
1876
Jany 31 “ 1/2
“ 1 “
“ 5 8.50
$92.52
[William Graves and John Pike opened a
brush factory at the foot of Broad Street in Newburyport and operated it from
1867-70, but it was not a commercial success and they later sold it.]
.136 receipted
bill, Mrs. William Graves paid T. H. Lunt, Newburyport, Oct. 1877.
Newburyport 1877
Mrs William
Graves to T H Lunt Dr
Oct. 22 Days labor on cellar wall at
house on Milk St. 2.25
One day by tender 1.50
23 one half
day 1.22
half day by tender .75
mortar for painting 1.50
cleaning dirt
.50
7.62
Recd payment T H
Lunt
[indicates that the Graves still owned
the house on Milk Street. William Graves
Jr. had passed away on September 1, 1877.]
.137 receipted bill, Mrs. William Graves paid
E.S. Sweetser, Newburyport, for wallpaper, April 2,
1878.
Printed billhead:
carpets, room papers and borders, window curtains and fixtures.
.138 receipted bill, Mrs. William Graves paid Jackman & Griffin, Newburyport, April 17, 1878, for
stock and labor to paper rooms, etc.
.139 receipted bill, Mrs. William Graves paid
Lord Brothers, Newburyport, for refitting hair mattress, May 3, 1879.
Printed
billhead: upholsters, dealers in upholstery goods, curtain goods and fixtures,
wire window screens and wire cloth, etc.
.140 receipted
bill, estate of Susannah Graves paid S.H. Safford & Co., Sept. 27, 1878.
Printed billhead.
Newburyport, Sep 27 1878
Estate of
Susannah Graves
To
S. H. SAFFORD & CO., Dr.,
FURNISHING
UNDERTAKERS,
ROBES, WREATHS, CROSSES, CUT
FLOWERS, &c., FURNISHED TO ORDER,
13 & 15 MIDDLE STREET.
July 31 To
Casket Plate & Care 50.00
“ Hearse & Attending Funeral 10.00
“ %[?] 2.00
$62.00
Paid
S. H. Safford & Co.
.141 receipted
bill, Mrs. William Graves paid John Sumner, Oct.–Nov. 1878.
1878
Mrs. William Graves to John Summer
Dr.
Oct. 4 To 1 =
No5 Donar[?] Furnace 100.00
17 24
feet of 10 in Tin pipe 35c 8.40
1 Elbow .63 & 1 Tee joint .75
1.38
1 = 10 in Damper & sod .62
1 = 6 in
“ “ .40
Mason work 1.00
taking down old Furnace
fixing up pipe etc 3.00 114.80
cr
By
200 lbs old iron 1.30
Oct 31 cash
on acct 50.00 51.30
———-
Rec’d Pay Nov 12
1878 63.50
John Summer per W
.142 receipted bill, Mrs. William Graves paid D.
M. French, Newburyport, Oct. 3, 1878.
Newburyport, Oct
13/1878
Mrs. William Graves
To D. M. French. Dr
To Three Headstones
Ital Mar 45.00
“ Cutting Four inscriptions
on monument
16.00
“ Two foundations 4.00
Rec. Payment $65.00
D. M. French.
.143 receipted bill, estate of William Graves
paid E.S. Sweetser, Newburyport, for wallpaper for
Milk Street, Dec. 1878.
Printed billhead: carpets, room
papers and borders, window curtains and fixtures.
.144 receipted bill, Mrs. William Graves paid
E.S. Sweetser, Newburyport, for wallpaper, Nov. 7,
1879.
Printed billhead: carpets, room
papers and borders, window curtains and fixtures.
.145 receipted bill, estate of William Graves
paid J.B. Creasey & Co., Newburyport, Nov. 19.
1880.
Printed
billhead.
Newburyport,
Mass. Nov. 19 1880
Estate of Wm
Graves
To J. B. CREASEY
& CO., Dr.
HOUSE,
SHIP, SIGN AND FANCY PAINTERS
AND
DEALERS IN
PAINTS, OILS GLASS, SASHES,
BLINDS, DOORS AND PAINTERS’ SUPPLIES
NO.
3 WATER STREET
1880 12 lb yellow Paint
del Mr. Fernald Ring Island 1.80
Paid J B Creasey &
Co.
[Indicates that the Graves still
owned the house on Rings Island]
Folder 6: Business letters
.146 to Wm. Gray [sic] Jr., Esq., Newburyport,
Mass., from Bray & Raymond, Salem, Jan. 10, 1851. Instructions on how to hang something at the
windows, perhaps roller shades, with a diagram.
Salem
Jany 10 1851
Wm
Gray[sic] Jr. Esq.
Dear
Sir
I understand by Mr Cook that you
have shutters in your parlor, and I have made the spring to roll out, instead
of in. I have put a piece of zinc in the
box as a guide to puting[sic] up the holders[.] Place the zinc hard home to the sash, and the
top; the same being marked “top & B.[“]—prick off the center from the hole,
then screw on the holders so that the center so pricked off shall, be at the
bottom of the grove[sic,] one being attached to show how they are to be
placed. [cross-sectional diagram drawn
here]
Before placing
the spring into the window the curtain must be unrolled and hong[sic]
down the whole length from the spring, and after it is in its pace take out the
pin.—
The bill is herewith enclosed [not present] and you can
pay the expressman or can when you come to the city
Per order
Bray and
Raymond
by CD.
[Bray and Raymond listed as a Window
Sash and Shade Fixtures company in Beverly in the 1853 Massachusetts Register.
]
.147 to William Graves, Newburyport, from John
M. Ives, Salem, date (and text on top of page 2) mostly worn away. About arrangements for a fair; display of the
ladies’ handiwork (quilts, fancy rugs, etc.), fruit, and vegetables are
mentioned.
William Graves Esq.
Newburyport
Dr Sir
Yours respecting the arrangement of the Hall is before
me, with regard to the decoration of the Room I suppose that the Manufactured
articles such as Fancy Rugs, Counterpans[sic], Quilts
and all the et ceteras of the handy work of the
Ladies will cover the sides &c of the Hall.
Last year there were more of these articles than we could well display
on the walls[.] Messrs. Williams &
Brewster were added to our committee at the last meeting, to whom in your
absence I remarked that the Tables for the Fruit had better be prepared similar
to last year, the rostrum or pulpit
be so arranged that no one should roost there as they did at the last show, but
that in lieu of this one or two police men be placed there to overlook the
table &c. The tent for the
vegetables to be brought out to the street running back to the former one (the
whole area of the building;) You speak [words
at top of p. 2 illegible] the day before the show[.] I shall visit Newburyport if nothing prevents
on Monday next, returning to Salem in the afternoon. I want to make arrangements as regards
Dishes, Plates &c &c. heretofore
their[sic] has been a difficulty in obtaining them at the proper time, and also
the most proper kinds. I trust you may
be at home on Monday or Messrs. Brewster or Williams to assist me in this matter
Yours truly in haste
John M. Ives[*]
[John M. Ives (1798-1883) was a
stationer and bookseller in Salem and an avid horticulturalist. He co-authored the New England Book of Fruit with Robert Manning, an uncle of
Nathaniel Hawthorne, and was active in the Essex Agricultural Society (EAS),
the Essex County Natural History Society and its successor the Essex
Institute. Ives was a Curator of
Horticulture for the latter, which arranged educational programs, including
exhibitions of horticulture and agriculture.
This letter
probably refers to the EAS exhibition in Newburyport 30 Sept.-1 Oct.,
1857. The exhibition was staged in
Newburyport in successive years 1856-57, and Ives wants arrangements “similar
to last year.” Additionally, Graves was
a Newburyport alderman 1856-58 and no doubt had committee
responsibilities. The Transactions of the EAS from 1857 show
that Ives was chairman of the Fruit Committee. He begins his report (p. 50)
saying that “Our friends in Newburyport were apprehensive that there would be a
falling off from last year. We found,
however, no want of interest in the county generally in the Show.” In fact,
there was a falling off, with admission receipts down from $1300 to $840 and
half the 1200 dinner guests of 1856.
However, the governor did attend. ]
.148 to Capt. Wm. Graves, from Bearup & Carraher, New York,
Feb. 20, 1868. Requesting payment of a
bill incurred by the Duplex Rotary Pump & Engine Co. for work done on
Staten Island in 1867.
New
York Feby 20th\68
Capt Wm Graves
Dear
Sir
We have a bill against
the Duplex Rotary Pump & Engine Co amounting to $81.61 for work &
materials used in connecting pumps at Staten Island in Sept\67 and ordered by
the Sect’y of the Company—Mr
Van Repper. We
presume you are well aware that the work has been done and we think that we
have given the Company sufficient time for the settlement of the same.
Hopeing[sic] to hear from you
in regard to the matter at your earliest convenience we remain
Yours Respectfully—
Bearup
& Carraher
[tin, copper and iron workers]
597 Grand
Street
.149 to Capt. Graves, from Albert B. Hill,
Boston, March 23, 1870. Requests Graves
to order Mr. Chase to loan Hill a power pump.
Mr. Chase could not give me your
address.
Boston
March 23rd 1870
Capt Graves
Dr Sir.
I made arrangements for the Patent Rotary
Pump with Mr. Walter Curtis yesterday.
The papers will not be made out till some
time towards the last of next week
There is a small second hand power Pump at
Mr. Chases’ shop in Lincoln Street [see below] that I would like to borrow for
a week or two, and I will put it in repair,
and make it right with you after I am through with it, if I should not
buy it before.
Will you
order Mr. Chase to loan it to me?
Please
reply immediately
“say nothing to
Toppan till everything is fixed”
Your obt Servt
Albert B. Hill
224
Northampton St.
[S. E. Chase was a manufacturer
of steam engines at 35 Lincoln Street, Boston]
.182 to Wm. Graves, Esq., from George Draper
& Son, Hopedale, Mass., March 18, 1872.
Will ship his spindle work tomorrow.
On back: a list of
checks, but this does not necessarily having anything to do with this letter.
Printed letterhead.
Office of George Draper & Son
Hopedale, Mass. March 18 1872
Wm. Graves Esq -
Treas Bartlett Steam Mill
Dear Sir
We shall ship all your spindle work save a part of the spindles by freight tomorrow morning — Please advise us of its arrival & we will endeavor to send men at once—
Yours Truly—
Geo. Draper & Son—
[there follows a list of seven dates, March 1865-Sept. 1870, with numbers, either 30 or 31, possibly a tally of spindles ordered on those dates.
[The Draper Corporation was once the
largest maker of power looms for the textile industry in the U.S., and operated
in Hopedale for over 130 years (Wikipedia).
It appears from the notation at the bottom that the spindles were
usually ordered twice a year. The
Bartlett Steam Mill contained over 17,000 spindles. The mill was a cotton
textile factory (actually two mill buildings) built in Newburyport in the late
1830’s and early 1840’s at the urging of Charles T. James, an entrepreneurial
engineer and outspoken advocate of steam engines. It manifested the Industrial
Revolution in New England, and was “the most important American experiment with
the steam-run mill prior to the war”. (Thernstrom, Stephan.
Poverty and Progress: Social Mobility in a Nineteenth Century City. [Harvard, 1964, p. 12].) Where once it appeared that Newburyport must
be resigned to ship building and rum distilling, the advent of modern steam
engines powered by cheap coal made large scale manufacturing economically
feasible, revitalized Newburyport from the moribund shipping trade, and
dramatically changed the social fabric. In
addition to this case study the Bartlett mill was used as an example in a
protracted, highly detailed and passionate debate in Boston newspapers of 1841
as to the economic merits of water versus steam power. (Jeremy, David J. Technology
and Power in the Early American Cotton Industry: James Montgomery, the Second Edition of His
“Cotton Manufacture” (1840), and the ‘Justitia’
Controversy about Relative Power Costs. [American Philosophical Society, 1990].)
Folder
7: City of Newburyport: fire department, trees, edge stones
.150 report of Standing Committee on Public
Property, Newburyport, about building a new firehouse. Jan. 18, 1858. Signed by chairman William Graves.
The joint
Standing Committee on Public Property to whom was referred the petition of
Engine Company No 2. asking for a new Engine House have given the subject their
attention & respectfully ———Report———
That in the opinion of your Committee it is inexpedient
at this time to build a new house as asked for by the petitioners.
The present building may be repaired at a small expense
so as to answer the purpose very well for a few years, when it is to be hoped
the cost of a new building will be less felt by the City than at present.
Your Committee recommend therefore that the present
building be repaired & put in comfortable working order.
Respectfully
submitted
for
the Committee
Wm Graves Chairman
Newburyport
Jany 18th 1858
.151 report of Standing Committee on Public
Property, Newburyport, recommending repairs to the existing firehouse. March 22, 1858. Signed by chairman William Graves.
The joint
Standing Committee on Public Property to which was referred the order in
relation to the sale of Engine House No 2. & the cost of building a new one
have attended to the duty assigned them & respectfully
————Report.———
That in the opinion of the Committee a new house, built
of wood, would cost about Seven hundred dollars $700-
That the present building, without the land (which the
city is unauthorized to sell) could be sold for about Seventy five dollars.
$75. and the cost of repairing the same
& put it in good order including two coats of paint would not exceed ($100)
One hundred dollars.
Respectfully submitted
Wm
Graves
Chairman
Newburyport March 22 1858
.152 letter to Capt. Graves, from B. Davis, Jr.,
Newburyport, April 14, 1858. Has Graves
done anything about planting trees? “Our
opposition friends” chose a chief and assistant engineers [for fire
department], but must be approved by mayor.
Begs Graves to be home in time to attend next meeting.
Newburyport
Ap. 14th/58
Capt Graves
Sir.
Previous to
your leaving home I did not think to ascertain whether you had made any
arrangements for setting out trees[.]
Have you made any & if not is it best to set out any this
spring. please give me your ideas in the
matter as if we do any thing it must be done
quickly. Our opposition friends sprung a
trap upon Mr Hills & myself [see note below] at our last meeting by
choosing by ballot Chief & Assistant
engineers. it was all Illegal & of
course there are none appointed as they must be appointed by the Mayor subject
to confirmation[.] they chose 2 of them whom we think would be detrimental to
the interest of the fire Department but we fear they will be obstinate &
not vote to confirm the nominations of the Mayor[.] without you we are powerless & you must
be at home on Monday night. there is no
getting along without you. Will you be
at home. please inform me. you must if there is any possibility of your
doing so
by
sending an early answer
you will oblige
yours &c
B
Davis Jr
[Benjamin Davis was the Alderman for
Ward 3, Philip K. Hills the Alderman for
Ward 4, and Graves for Ward 2. Perhaps
these three formed a political block with the mayor, William Cushing. Like Graves, Cushing managed ships in the
European and East Indies trade and lived nearby at 63 High Street. All four served in their respective offices
from 1856-58. None served again until
Graves’ stint as mayor in 1866.
Source: Currier, John J. History
of Newburyport, Mass. 1764-1909 (p. 254)]
.153 receipted bill, City of Newburyport, to
James Fogg, for planting trees in the city: horse chestnut, elm, maple,
mountain ash; also some paint and labor of trimming trees; April-May 1858.
.154 “Catalogue of Trees set out in city of
Newburyport in 18[illegible] on account of the Bromfield [illegible word]. Lists streets and numbers of trees (elms,
maples, red maples, oaks) planted along each.
Date from back: 1887[?]
.155 “Catalogue of trees furnished & set out
by D. Pearson,” 1856. Lists streets and
numbers of trees (red maples, maples, elms, beech, lime, birch, horse chestnut,
chestnut, ash) planted along each.
.156 letter, to Wm. Graves, Esq., from Joseph
Blood for B. Colburn & Co., Lanesville, Mass., Aug. 18, 1857. About stone for city of Newburyport. Beniah Colburn
recuperating from broken leg.
Lanesville Aug
18. 1857
to Wm. Graves,
Esq.
Dear
Sir.
We
have an impression in our minds & have had it for a few weeks, that you
ordered us to send to City of Newburyport 600 feet of Edge Stone, but we cannot
find the order.
If you expect us to send the 600 ft.
will you inform us what we can put in a
freight to make out a cargo? It
is bad business to send a sloop to carry about 55 tons of stone anywhere—75 to
82 tons would be much more accommodating.
Please state what wharf they are to be sent to.
We presume you have heard of our Mr.
Beniah Colburns accident. He is laid up with a broken leg, but is
getting along as well as can be expected with the thigh bone broken off.
Yours truly
for
B. Colburn & Co.
Joseph
Blood
Please direct
to Lanesville, Mass.
[note: Lanesville is a
community near Rockport on the tip of Cape Ann, an area rich in granite. Colburn provided the granite for the chain
bridge over the Merrimack River in 1828 (p. 111), and possibly for the
Newburyport Custom House (p. 11) , and he was the first to ship foundation
stone around Cape Horn to San Francisco in 1852-53 (p. 42). With the use of dynamite and of block and
tackle to lift stone, quarry accidents were common and the likely source of
Colburn’s bad break; but he recovered and died of typhoid fever in 1871. Blood’s widow later sold Blood’s ledge, a
huge granite seam, to Colonel French at the urging of his former commander,
General Benjamin (“Beast”) Butler, who had built a summer home in the area (pp.
43-45). (Source: Erkkila, Barbara. Hammers on Stone [1980])
.157 letter to Wm. Graves, esq.,
Newburyport, from Thomas Hale for B. Colburn & Co., Rockport, Sept. 6,
1858. Have loaded stone for City of
Newburyport and hopes it will arrive tomorrow.
On back: penciled figures, unknown
purpose.
Rockport, Sept
6th 1858.
Wm Graves Esq.
Newburyport.
Sir— We have this day loaded one of our smallest sloops with Edge Stone, for the City of Newburyport agreeable to your order of the 2 inst.
If the weather is favourable, she will probably be at Newburyport tomorrow. [see note]
Respectfully
Yours etc. B. Colburn & Co.
per. Thomas Hale
[It would have been an easy run
from Rockport across Ipswich Bay to Newburyport. The granite sloops of Cape Ann were stubby,
broad-beamed and made of heavy oak in order to sustain their loads and carried
a sturdy cargo boom to load and unload. (Source: Erkkila, Barbara. Hammers on Stone, p. 27 [1980])
Folder 8: bills to Brush Factory,
Rufus Smith, and various others (not to William Graves)
.158 receipted bill, Brush Factory sold John
Page bricks from chimney, Nov. 6, 1876.
Receipt initialed W.G.
.159a-b two receipted bills which are attached.
.159a Brush Co. Building owners paid Neil H. McLane
and Chas. Tucker, Newburyport, for removing something from floor of building,
March 1876.
.159b Brush Factory owners paid Colby & Low
for labor, Newburyport, March 4, 1876.
Printed
billhead: manufacturers of stationary, marine, and hoisting machines, sewing
machine fixtures, etc.
.160 receipted bill, R. Smith paid G. Greenleaf
for fruit dishes and soup tureen bought at auction, 1851[?].
.161 receipted bill, Rufus Smith paid John Dodge
for his part of bill for repairing of battlements and cement on store at corner
of Inn and Market Square, June 6, 1855.
.162 receipted bill, Rufus Smith paid Joseph Slatery, Newburyport, for slating his store at corner of
Inn Street, June 17, 1855.
.163 receipted bill, Rufus Smith paid Whittier,
Dunbar & Co., Boston, for unspecified merchandise, Dec. 1856.
Printed billhead:
wholesale and retail dealers in paints, oils, window-glass, zinc, varnishes.
.164 receipted bill, Rufus Smith paid J.
Chamberlin, for mending door, pans, canisters, stove, etc. Credit given for old stove. Feb.-Dec. 1856.
.165 receipted bill, Rufus Smith paid Dickinson,
Lincoln & Co., Boston, for pails, Sept. 19, 1856.
Printed billhead:
dealers in willow ware, brushes, churns, window shades, etc. Left side of paper has been removed, so part
of list of goods available is missing (more of list is visible on .166).
.166 receipted bill, Rufus Smith paid
Dickinson, Lincoln & Co., Boston, for pails, brooms, measures, boxes, etc.,
March 21, 1856.
Printed billhead:
dealers in willow ware, brooms, brushes, handles, tubs, churns, cedar ware,
baskets, window shades, etc. Left side
of paper has been removed, so part of list of goods available is missing (but
more can be seen here than in .165).
.167 receipted bill, Rufus Smith paid William
Read & Son, Boston, for iron shovels, March 21, 1856.
Printed billhead: guns
(Colt’s and Allen’s revolvers, Sharp’s rifles), sporting apparatus, hardware
(including Ames’ shovels), gunpowder, cannon, cutlasses, pikes, etc. Left side of paper is missing so part of list
is missing.
.168 receipted bill, Rufus Smith paid A.D.
Woods, Newburyport, for paint and painting, glass, lettering, signs, May 1857.
.169 receipted bill, Thomas Breuker,
United States Vice Consul at Amsterdam, paid A. C. van Eeden
& Co., for hyacinths, tulips, gladiolus, etc., Dec. 1863
Printed billhead:
florists and seedsmen, Haarlam
in Holland.
.170 receipted bill, William Moulton paid A.D.
& O. W. Woods, Newburyport, for wallpaper and hanging it, painting rooms,
mending plastering, painting and repairing glass at shop, etc., May-Dec. 1860,
bill dated Jan. 1, 1861.
.171 receipted bill, estate of William Moulton
paid N.W. Hurd, Newburyport, for timber, planks, boards, shingle nails,
labor, Jan.-July 1863, bill dated April
1864.
.172 receipted bill, C.F. Perry paid William
Gunnison, Merrimac, Mass., for work on carriage, May 24, 1877. [Endorsed on back as William Gunnison &
Co.]
[Charles French Perry, son-in-law of
William Graves, married to Georgianna.]
Merrimac Mass., May 24th/77
Mr. C. F. Perry
to
William Gunnison, Do.
To resetting
tires & new bolts 3.50
“ Painting & varnishing 13.00
“ new front prop nut .25
“
tightening up iron work .75
17.40
new shaft in old
Phaeton 2.25
Refitting irons
to same .75
Painting 1.25
new shaft
leathers & putting on
1.25
5.50
Received Payment 22.90
Accept
thanks Wm
Gunnison & Co.
.173 receipted bill, Mrs. Snow paid N.R. Brown
for table and work table bought at auction, no date [1860s?]. Receipt signed by P. White.
.174 receipted bill, I.W. Snow paid R. Anderson
& Sons, Liverpool, for Brussels chintz tapestry (and seaming for same),
sofa rug, Axminister mats, Kidderminster, canvas,
Jan. 12, 1864.
Printed billhead: The
Family Linen, Carpet, Damask & General Furnishing Warehouse. With internal revenue stamp.
Folder
9: bills to Improved Power Association, 1866-1867
.175 receipted bill, Charles Toppan, agent, paid
Thomas Leavitt & Co., Boston, for labor on rotary and fire engines, bolts,
screws, valves, castings, other parts, etc., Dec. 1866-March 1867. Approved by William Graves, A. Toppan, Thomas
Leavitt. Endorsed: bill paid by M.
Curtis.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of portable and stationary engines, machines of every description
made to order. With U.S. internal
revenue stamp.
.176 receipted bill, Improved Power Association
paid Thomas Leavitt & Co., Boston, for labor and parts for various engines,
July 1867.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of portable and stationary engines, machines of every description
made to order.
.177 receipted bill, Charles Toppan, agent Power
Assn., paid T.H. Foulds, [place illegible], for
drawings for pumps, engines sent to Boston, electrotype cuts, telegraphs, April
11, 1867.
.178 receipted bill, Improved Power Association
paid Thomas Leavitt & Co., Boston, for labor and parts for various engines,
July 1867. Endorsed: Duplicate.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of portable and stationary engines, machines of every description
made to order.
.179 receipted bill, Improved Power Association
paid Thomas Leavitt & Co., Boston, for labor and parts for 33 horse power
engine, March-May 1867.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of portable and stationary engines, machines of every description
made to order.
.180 receipted bill, Improved Power Association
paid Thomas Leavitt & Co., Boston, for labor and parts for various engines
and pump, Feb.-May 1867.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of portable and stationary engines, machines of every description
made to order.
Folder 10: “Cost of Brick House
in High St.”
.181 summary of bills paid for building house
[Note: the following is not a receipt
but a compilation of bills for the construction of the house at 56 High Street,
to determine the total cost. The
construction apparently took place during 1844, which matches the date on the
historic marker on the house. There is
an update at the bottom for the cost of a new fence in 1847. The handwriting in this document suggests
that it is not written by William Graves.
Recorded below are mostly items where the nature of the work is clear
(ellipses indicate items not transcribed).
The left side of the paper has had several sections torn away, mostly
affecting the reading of the dates.]
Cost of Brick House in high St.
1844
… May
14th 1 Cask Nails & Porterage 4.33
[a number of
similar entries, May-October]
… Sept
26th Marble Fire places &
Hearths 83.90
“ “ Mosses
Pond for Grates & Screens 41.00
… Oct 18th 4
Glass Knobs 2.25
“ 29th Jos
Woods Bills for Bricks
woodwork
done by W on his Contract
&
sundry Bills pd by him past
Land[?]
&c 1606.22
“ “ Albert
Currier Do
Do 1810.00
“ “ Extra
Land 272.94
“ “ Nails
.99, fght of marble 2.24
Nov. 12th nails & Porterage 2.77
Nov 22nd J
G Tiltons Bill of Paper 65.05
“ “ Mrs
Page for Papering 17.61
“ “ Washing, Turfing,
Measg & Deeds 2.42
“ “ Wm Thurstons [*] Bill 25.33
Dec
2 Latch
& Screws .31
Tory [*] &
Knights Bill & Gravelling 15.00
“ “ Wigglesworth
[*] Bills Finish attic,
Barn
& Out House also for
Blinds
& other work 211.65
“ 13th C
H Hudson Bill 32.00
“ 14th D
Coombs & Son 48.04
“ [?] Bal
of A Currier Bill 68.00
“ 22d CL
Huses Bill 101.90
“ 27th Toul [i.e. Towle] & Bayly Bill Fencing etc 131.00
“ “ Burrill & Cutters Bill 88.44
“ “ N.
Davis & J.M. Georges[?] Bill 10.85
“ “ E.
H. & G. Georges Bill 11.35 Toky 1.71 13.06
“ 6th Latch,
Screws & Gravell Haul’g
Lumber 6.04
“ 26th Nails,
Scraper & Grangers Bill 11.61
“ “ Saml
Boardman Bill 37.60
“ “ C
L Huse Bill Outside Fence Barn &c 51.05
“ “ raising
Fence 17.11
$4792.86
1847 4792.86 Cost $4792.86
New Fence 16.67
4809.53
Notes on workmen mentioned in bill:
Moses Pond & Co. of Boston sold
furnaces, stoves, and ranges.
Joseph Wood was not identified.
Albert Currier was a master mason and
contractor who built City Hall and 2 churches in Newburyport. He also served as mayor in 1859-60 and as a
state representative.
John G. Tilton was a publisher and
bookseller whose shop at 21 State Street also sold paper hangings.
William Thurston was a lumber merchant.
Joseph Torrey and John Knight were stone
cutters.
John H. Wigglesworth was a house
carpenter.
In the 1851 city directory, Charles H.
Hudson was listed as a telegraph agent.
D. Coombs not identified.
Charles L. Huse
was a painter.
George Towle
and John Bayley, Jr. were house carpenters.
Henry M. Burrill
was a painter. Several men surnamed
Cutter were painters: Eben, Stephen, and Thomas H.
Nathaniel Davis was a stone cutter. Joseph M. George was a blacksmith.
Edward H. George and George J. George
were blacksmiths. Toky
is possibly James Tobey, a house carpenter.
George T. Granger was a lumber merchant.
Samuel Boardman was a hardware merchant.